Imran hospital transfer case: PTI’s contempt plea assigned number after objections removed

In a significant development in the case concerning the hospital transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the party’s contempt of court petition to be refiled after objections raised by the registrar office were removed, Aaj News reported.

According to sources, the Supreme Court’s registrar office assigned a case number to the petition after the procedural objections were addressed. The contempt petition has been registered as Case No. 8/2026.

The petition, filed by Imran’s sister, Uzma Khan, will now be taken up by the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the registrar office had returned the contempt petition after raising objections over the application filed against the transfer of Imran to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of the Shifa International Hospital.

The PTI had subsequently announced that it would refile the petition after addressing the objections.

Speaking to the media at the Supreme Court Facilitation Centre, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had said that the registrar office objected to the petition on the grounds that the alleged contemnors had not been provided with a list of allegations.

He said the party had also sought an early hearing of the matter and would refile the petition after removing the objections.

The Supreme Court had on August 18 ordered Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination. However, authorities transferred him to PIMS, citing security concerns.

According to the government, doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present during Imran’s medical examination at PIMS.

Following the development, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and other lawyers filed a contempt petition against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, alleging non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s order.

The PTI has maintained that the top court’s directions regarding Imran’s medical examination should have been fully implemented.

The government, however, has defended the decision to transfer Imran to PIMS instead of the private hospital, citing security concerns. Information Minister Tarar said the decision was taken in view of security considerations, including concerns regarding the route to Shifa International Hospital and the presence of PTI workers outside the facility.

The government has also rejected allegations of medical negligence or inhumane treatment of Imran in custody, maintaining that he has access to legal and medical facilities and has been examined by multiple medical boards.

Meanwhile, Uzma has said that her brother is physically in better condition, while also raising concerns about the conditions he faces in jail. PTI has vowed to continue its legal battle over the matter.