Gohar sounds alarm over Imran's health

Mashal tells SC PTI founder's health is deteriorating

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take up an application seeking implementation of its August 18 order regarding the transfer of the party's founder, Imran Khan, to hospital for medical treatment, saying the information about his health was not encouraging and had caused concern across the country.

Gohar said the party had also sought an early hearing of the matter, stressing that there should be no compromise on Imran's health.

He said the August 18 order had directed that the former prime minister be shifted and provided treatment, besides calling for the formation of a medical board to oversee his care. The PTI chairman also called for an end to the prevailing political tension, saying the situation should not be allowed to escalate further.

"The practice of picking up members of the assemblies, party workers and supporters should stop," he said, adding that decisions should be taken regarding Imran's transfer to hospital and medical treatment.

SC petition

With neither the Supreme Court nor the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) listing the case concerning former prime minister Imran Khan's transfer from Adiala Jail to a private medical facility for hearing, PTI Senator Mashal Yousafzai has approached the former, seeking an early hearing.

Yousafzai, one of the petitioners who had requested the Supreme Court to order shifting of Imran from jail to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital for treatment in view of his deteriorating health, has filed an early hearing application in the Supreme Court

In her application, she stated that the matter had become urgent because the party founder remained in solitary confinement, with severely restricted access to his family and lawyers.

"His health is deteriorating, and the failure to provide the medical care and facilities already directed by this Honourable Court has given rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, any further delay may have serious consequences for his health," she said.

The senator said the Supreme Court resumed hearing the matter on September 16 and raised questions about the FCC's order summoning the case record.

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan sought three weeks to examine the questions and assist the court. The request was granted, and the hearing was adjourned for a date after three weeks.

However, the three-week period expired without the case being fixed for further hearing, the application said. It also cited the non-implementation of the Supreme Court's August 18 order directing the federal government to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital.

"The delay in hearing the titled appeal is causing serious prejudice, particularly when the health and well-being of a citizen of Pakistan in custody are involved. The matter concerns not only compliance with the directions of this honourable court but also the protection of fundamental rights," it said.

Yousafzai further argued that any delay could defeat the purpose of the interim directions and cause irreparable harm to Imran. The application said the constitutional and legal questions raised by the Supreme Court in its Sept 16 order also required an early determination.