Imran Khan's party seeks contempt action over jailed leader's hospital move

By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE, Aug 22 (Reuters) - ‌The party of ​Pakistan's ​jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan filed a contempt petition against the government on Saturday after authorities took the cricketer-turned-politician to a state-run hospital ‌instead of the private facility ordered by the top court, party ⁠officials said.

"The petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister" and other government officials, ‌said Naeem Panjutha, a legal ‌advisor for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, adding it also calls for Khan's treatment at the private hospital ordered by the court.

Khan, who remains highly popular in Pakistan, ​has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges he calls politically motivated after a fallout with the country's powerful military led to his removal from office. ⁠His arrest sparked massive nationwide protests, including the storming of military installations, and public perception that he was ​moved back to jail forcefully has the potential to rekindle such demonstrations.

A three-judge bench on Tuesday directed the government to transfer Khan ​from Adiala Jail to the private Shifa International ‌Hospital in Islamabad within two days for medical examination.

Officials instead took Khan to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) overnight ⁠on Friday for a brief check-up before returning him to jail and did not give him access to his personal physician, which the party also cites as a breach of ⁠court orders.

The PTI interprets the order as requiring Khan to remain under medical supervision until at ​least mid-September.

Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, who attended the examination at PIMS, told media that while her brother is physically fit, “Khan told me that he is being repeatedly tortured in prison”. The interior ‌and law ministries as well as jail authorities have not responded to a request for comment from Reuters on the allegations ‌of torture.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday Khan was examined at PIMS because of ⁠security risks.

Khan's supporters had lined Islamabad ‌streets overnight, and PTI leaders ​say the episode will intensify pressure and boost preparations for a planned protest march on September 27.

(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari; Editing by ‌Saad Sayeed)

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