Preparations have been completed to shift Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who has remained in prison since August 2023, from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital, with the transfer expected to take place tonight, sources told Geo News.
Islamabad Inspector General of Police, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, visited Shifa International Hospital along with senior police officers and reviewed security arrangements ahead of the expected transfer.
The development comes amid the Supreme Court’s ruling to shift the ousted prime minister to Shifa International Hospital within two days.
However, the government filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision to transfer the jailed former prime minister to a private hospital — but sources said it was returned by the Registrar’s Office, which raised objections to the plea filed by the Islamabad chief commissioner.
Strict security measures have been put in place outside the hospital, with a heavy contingent of police deployed in the area.
Vehicles parked along the roadside near Shifa International Hospital were also removed using lifters as part of the security arrangements.
According to PTI sources, Imran is expected to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital before midnight tonight. Authorities have formally informed PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan about the planned transfer, they added.
An Islamabad Police squad comprises two vehicles, and squads of traffic and elite police have also reached Adiala Jail.
The development comes after the SC on Tuesday ordered the authorities to shift the ousted prime minister to Shifa International Hospital within two days.
However, the government filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision to transfer the jailed former prime minister to a private hospital — but sources said it was returned by the Registrar’s Office, which raised objections to the plea filed by the Islamabad chief commissioner.
‘Bani Gala transfer premature’
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said it is premature to say that Imran will be shifted from the hospital to his Bani Gala residence.
He said any building could potentially be declared a sub-jail, adding that a decision to shift Imran to Bani Gala could be considered if medical experts conclude that returning him to prison would be detrimental to his health.
Raja said the report submitted to the court indicated that the conditions in jail were causing anxiety for the PTI founder.
He said the medical board would decide whether Imran should return to jail or be shifted to Bani Gala, adding that the government could declare the residence a sub-jail if required.
“These are all possible options,” Raja said.
Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated. Since his ouster in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases.
Review petition
In the petition filed by the Centre a day ago, the federal government said the Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order directing that Imran Khan be transferred to a private hospital exceeded the court’s jurisdiction and should be reviewed.
“It seems the above statutory provision escaped notice of the Honourable Court, thereby resulting in an error which is floating on the surface of the record. Had the Court taken note of the above-noted provision of law, the order under review could not have been passed. The same, therefore, merits to be reviewed,” the petition contended.
The plea maintained that the former premier requested to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment, but the IHC rejected the request on March 12, after which an appeal was filed before the top court.
It added that prisoners transferred to hospitals must remain under police supervision. The petition also referred to Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, which sets out the procedure for transferring a prisoner from jail to a hospital.
The petition read that Imran had been regularly medically examined in the past and had received treatment from medical boards on several occasions.
It further argued that the court should have sought the opinion of medical experts before deciding on his transfer on health grounds.
