Govt fully implemented SC order on Imran’s medical check-up, says Tarar

Accuses PTI of politicising Imran’s health and committing contempt of court

Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar on Saturday accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of politicising the health of its founding chairman, Imran Khan, saying the government had fully implemented the Supreme Court’s order regarding his medical examination and alleging that the party had committed contempt of court through its statements and actions.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ordered that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family. In response, the government filed a review petition before the SC, describing its order as “discriminatory in nature”.

However, in a post on X a day earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar revealed that the former prime minister had been taken to Islamabad’s Pims, rather than Shifa International Hospital, for a medical examination. He said Imran was subsequently declared medically fit and returned to Adiala jail. The move drew criticism from opposition parties.

وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات و نشریات عطاء اللہ تارڑ کی اہم گفتگو@TararAttaullah pic.twitter.com/tjQEDxS2HC

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) August 22, 2026

Earlier today, the PTI filed a contempt of court petition in the SC over the alleged violation of the court’s Tuesday order concerning the transfer of its founder.

Speaking at a press briefing on the former prime minister’s transfer to a hospital, Tarar said the administration had complied with the court’s directions, while accusing the PTI of spreading “false propaganda” over the matter.

He said the government’s position on politicising health issues had remained unchanged.

Read: PTI files contempt petition in SC over alleged violation of order on Imran's hospital transfer

“When we were in the opposition, our position was that health should not be politicised. There has been no change in our position regarding the involvement of politics in health matters,” he said.

Tarar said that during his tenure as prime minister, Imran had made “taunting and derogatory” remarks about the health of others. “We have never adopted an insulting attitude towards anyone’s health,” he added.

Recounting the events following the court order, Tarar said Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had explained the government’s position in detail.

“The viewpoint was that whatever will happen, it will be according to the law,” he said.

The minister said the government had raised questions in its review petition about whether the same facilities ordered for Imran were available to all prisoners. Nevertheless, he said, the former premier’s medical examination had been conducted in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

The minister said the government’s review petition had also questioned whether the law and Constitution permitted Imran to be examined at a private hospital without a recommendation from a medical board.

Also Read: Imran Khan was taken to PIMS, not Shifa, for medical examination: Tarar

According to Tarar, the government had initially intended for Imran to be examined at Shifa International Hospital, but PTI supporters created a situation outside the facility.

“I informed through tweets that PTI people had created a risk and gathered there. That is why he was taken to Pims,” he said.

He maintained that the court’s directions were nevertheless followed in full.

“When the examination was conducted at Pims in accordance with the court’s order, doctors from Shifa were present there. Every clause of the court’s order was implemented,” he said.

The minister said the examination was conducted transparently and in the presence of Imran’s sister, with doctors from Shifa also present.

“The question is whether the order was implemented. The answer is yes. Was the check-up conducted? Yes. Was it done transparently? Yes. Was his sister present? Yes. Were doctors from Shifa present? Yes. All the obligations were fulfilled,” he said.

He said the government had nevertheless complied with the court order and arranged the examination.

Tarar said the PTI could choose to politicise the issue, but warned the party against doing so.

Read More: Imran Khan will not confront military if freed, Zulfi Bukhari says

“If you want to politicise your founding chairman’s health, then carry on. You blocked his route, created a law-and-order situation and are still creating ambiguity,” he said.

He said the Pims press release had stated that Imran’s pulse, blood pressure and other parameters were normal, while his eyesight was also fine. According to the preliminary report, he was in good health, he added.

“If the nature and severity of the illness have not emerged, my question is: what illness are you politicising?” he said.

Tarar stressed that medical issues should be left to doctors. “Health matters will be examined by doctors, who can give and are giving the best opinion. The government has not stopped his treatment for even a single day. Treatment has continued, is continuing and will continue whenever needed,” he said.

He urged the PTI not to turn the matter into a political issue, saying it concerned both legal and medical questions.

“This is a legal and health matter. Let it remain within that framework,” he said while accusing the PTI of committing contempt of court by politicising the issue.

Read: Opposition to approach SC over Imran’s treatment, reaffirm Sept 27 long march

“You have committed contempt of court by politicising this matter. Refrain from doing so; it is in your own interest,” he said.

Tarar said the government had maintained transparency in communicating developments to the media and the public. He said that after Imran’s examination at Pims, he had himself posted an update on X.

He criticised the PTI’s subsequent statements and actions, saying the party was “miles away from the light of knowledge” and would not have filed a contempt petition had it been aware of the facts.

Talal accuses PTI of playing ‘sympathy card’

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry defended the government’s handling of Imran Khan’s medical examination, saying most of the Supreme Court’s directions had been implemented and the former premier was found to be healthy.

Speaking on a private television programme, Naya Pakistan, the minister said Imran’s sister, Uzma Khan, had the right to file a contempt petition, but suggested that if she was seeking an NRO “through this excuse”, that was her choice.

“If she wanted her brother’s treatment and wanted to see whether he was healthy or ill, then her brother is absolutely fine and healthy. However, if she wants a decision through this excuse or wants an NRO through this excuse, then that is her own wish,” he said.

Rejecting the allegation of contempt of court, Chaudhry instead accused PTI supporters of violating the court’s order by gathering and creating a situation that, he said, made it necessary for the authorities to use another option instead of implementing the Supreme Court’s directions as originally envisaged.

He also accused the PTI of playing a “sympathy card” over Imran’s health and said that there was no reason for the government not to take Imran to Shifa International Hospital, which he said was around two kilometres from Pims.

“The administration made every sincere effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order,” he said.

Asked why Dr Faisal Sultan was not called to Pims despite being at Shifa International Hospital only a few kilometres away, the minister said most of the court’s order had been implemented, with the doctor and hospital being the only differences.

“His sister was present with him, the panel was present, and all the tests were conducted. He was found to be healthy. Once he was found to be healthy, minor things should be set aside,” Chaudhry said.

He added that if someone wanted to portray a healthy person as ill and use that to find a way forward, “that may be your wish”.

Asked whether Imran would be allowed to meet visitors, Chaudhry said the Supreme Court’s order was already in place, and an initial meeting had taken place.

“Further meetings will also continue to be arranged,” he said.

However, he warned that the government would take action if the situation was turned into a security issue or attempts were made to organise a march.