Govt to implement direction on Imran’s medical order after SC clarification, Sanaullah tells Senate

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan on Tuesday told the Senate that the Supreme Court (SC) would decide on September 16 whether, and to what extent, its August 18 order concerning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan's medical examination had been complied with, assuring the senators that the government would implement any further direction issued by the apex court.

“On September 16, the court will decide where the order was complied with, to what extent it was complied with and whether there was any deficiency,” Sanaullah told the House while responding to points raised by Senator Ali Zafar and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas.

The statement came against the backdrop of the SC's August 18 order after Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination. The order had directed that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and instructed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family. Following the alleged violation of the apex court order, PTI filed a contempt of court petition in the SC.

Sanaullah, during today's Senate session, assured the House that if the SC found any shortcoming and directed the government to take further measures, its orders would be implemented.

Also Read: Fact check: Imran Khan was not recently taken to PIMS

He said neither the government nor the opposition should assume the role of a court and pronounce its own verdict on compliance with the judicial order, saying that the government, state institutions and courts were all bound by the Constitution and law, which also provided mechanisms for review and legal remedies where implementation of a judicial order was disputed.

Referring to the SC’s August 18 order, Sanaullah said the government had made a sincere effort to implement it. The purpose of taking the PTI founder to a hospital, he said, was to have him medically examined.

He said the original plan was changed because the administration had security concerns over the situation that could develop at the intended facility. The PTI founder was instead taken to a government health facility where, according to him, he underwent a complete examination by qualified and professional doctors.

Sanaullah reiterated that the government had no intention of compromising the PTI founder’s health, saying no negligence had been committed in the past and none would be allowed in future.

He also referred to political statements following meetings with the PTI founder, saying messages emerging from such meetings were subsequently repeated at press conferences and amplified through social media, including from abroad.

Last week, the Adiala jail superintendent of police (SP) submitted a report to the SC that included a summary of Imran’s medical consultations and check-ups, highlighting concerns over the former premier's blood pressure and recommending increased interaction with family members to help manage his anxiety. He was examined by a PIMS cardiologist on August 1, who recorded his blood pressure at 140/100mmHg and recommended measures to reduce his mental stress, including more frequent meetings with his wife and access to reading material.

A four-member medical board that examined him on August 10 recorded his blood pressure at 140/80mmHg and recommended one hour of walking and relaxation, as well as more frequent interaction with his immediate family and spouse to help control his anxiety and blood pressure.

The report said Imran had undergone at least 39 medical check-ups since his incarceration, with jail medical officers checking him three times a day. It also said his ECG was normal and that his vision had improved to almost normal following treatment for an eye condition. The jail administration maintained that he was receiving adequate healthcare and regular medical monitoring.

Read More: Imran's vision has returned to 'almost normal' after treatment, Adiala SP tells SC

The PTI, however, questioned the authenticity and completeness of the medical documentation and demanded that Imran be examined by his personal doctors, Dr Asim Yusuf and Dr Faisal Sultan, as well as an independent medical board.

The government rejected claims that Imran was being denied proper medical care. Sanaullah had told the Senate that Imran was receiving the best available treatment from specialists and that his medical care and jail meetings were being conducted in accordance with the law and relevant court orders.

The SC had subsequently directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between Imran and his family and ordered that his personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, be granted access to him and directed the formation of a medical board comprising an eye specialist, a general physician, and a cardiologist along with Dr Sultan.

The court also instructed Imran’s family and lawyers not to share his medical report with the media, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan ordering that the report be kept completely confidential.

PTI calls for implementation 'in letter and spirit'

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the Supreme Court's order should have been implemented in letter and spirit.

While speaking to reporters, Gohar stated that “it is important that there should be no politics and verbal sparring on this”.

“The order of the Supreme Court should have been implemented in letter and spirit, and the order simply said that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital and a medical board be constituted that would administer his tests and treatment,” he added.

Gohar noted that this was a “simple matter and whoever diverted his transfer did not do right, and we wanted that this matter should be resolved once and for all”. 

He added that PTI also had “security concerns” and did not want a “violation of security protocols” from any side, further stating that at no stage was the party informed by the government that there would be a security concern regarding transferring Imran to Shifa hospital.

“We have not used this for political ends or to develop a certain narrative. We are saying that the Supreme Court order can be implemented even today if those who can implement the order pay heed and desire to do so,” he remarked.