Sharp exchanges took place in the Senate on Tuesday as the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf traded strong words over the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to a public hospital instead of a private facility. The debate centred on whether the authorities had fully followed the Supreme Court order regarding his medical examination.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar raised the issue on the Senate floor. He said the government failed to take Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital as directed by the court. Instead, the former prime minister was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Zafar also claimed that the medical board was not formed as required. He argued that the government had effectively changed the court’s order on its own. The senator stressed that political differences should not affect someone’s health and called for respect of judicial supremacy.
Responding to the criticism, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said it was not for any senator to act as the court. He stated clearly that only the court could decide whether its order had been complied with or not. Sanaullah accused the PTI of politicising Imran Khan’s health. He explained that the former prime minister was initially taken towards Shifa Hospital but was later shifted to Pims at the last moment due to security concerns. The government, he added, would present evidence of the situation outside Shifa before the court. He maintained that no negligence had taken place regarding the founder’s health.
Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan spoke to journalists near Adiala Jail. He said the original plan to transfer Imran Khan to Shifa was changed at the last minute and called the change wrong. Gohar expressed disappointment that proper treatment was not provided at Pims either. He noted that the PTI had never been informed about any security issues related to Shifa Hospital. The party, he said, has already filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, which has been assigned a number with a request for an early hearing.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political tension surrounding Imran Khan’s health and the interpretation of the court’s directions. Both sides continue to hold firm positions while the matter remains under judicial review.
