ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday raised objections to the plea seeking to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founder Imran Khan to the hospital.
Sardar Latif Khosa, senior advocate and PTI leader, on February 25, filed an application on behalf of the former premier before the Supreme Court in the Toshakhana criminal case under Rule 35(6) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025. He prayed to the apex court to transfer PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for eye treatment.
The order of the SC Registrar’s office, while declaring the petition not entertainable, said: “If the petitioner has any grievance, he may approach the appropriate forum i.e., the High Court, where his appeal is pending adjudication.”
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Advocates Latif Khosa and Naeem Panjutha, on Friday appeared before a SC two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP)
Yahya Afridi, and requested to fix their petition for hearing.
Khosa informed the bench that an application for an urgent hearing had been filed a day ago (Wednesday). However, the CJP Afridi told him that the petition had already been returned with objections. “Your petitions will remain pending until further orders. You have no such petition pending on which proceedings can be conducted,” he said.
To that, Khosa stated that the court had previously ordered medical treatment for the PTI founder. However, the chief justice said, “The court did not issue an order; rather, the government had given an assurance.”
The chief justice told Khosa that the health issue was no longer pending before the court and asked him to read the Court’s decision dated 12-02-26 again.
Khosa then submitted that the request for transfer to a hospital was not on political or legal, but on humanitarian grounds, to which CJP replied that the medical check-up had been carried out on humanitarian grounds.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, addressing Khosa, said, “I have known you since 1992. I understand what you are saying and through which channel you are saying it.” CJP Afridi, however, reminded Khosa of the court procedure.
“Khosa sahib, you are a senior lawyer; you must be aware of the Supreme Court’s procedure.”
He then asked the senior counsel to meet the Registrar for a copy of the objections.
“If he does not provide a copy, you may approach the court.”
Khosa, before leaving, questioned why he had not been informed of the previous day’s order. “If an order was passed yesterday, why have we not been informed yet?” he said.
In the petition Khosa has requested the apex court to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialized treatment of his eye condition by a retina specialist. It also sought access for his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, and requested that his family be permitted to remain present during medical examinations and treatment.
The filing also requested that Imran’s family members be informed and granted access during his medical treatment, and that his legal counsel be provided with attested copies of all medical reports and examinations. It further sought regular access for his lawyer to ensure effective legal representation.
The former prime minister has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023, protests. His party has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court said vision in his right eye had dropped to 15 percent. However, government officials say he is receiving appropriate medical care.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026