- Tarar says medical board decides if prisoner needs hospital care.
- Says prisoner sent to govt hospitals if board recommends.
- Law minister questions if SC order applies to all prisoners.
The federal government has decided to move the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order regarding the transfer of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday.
In a video statement, the law minister said that they studied the SC order regarding the transfer of PTI founder to the private hospital, noting that that some points of the ruling concerned the prison authorities and Islamabad administration.
His remarks came hours after the SC ordered Adiala jail authorities to transfer the PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment within two days.
Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated. Since his ouster in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases.
Tarar said that the certain points were discussed with the jail authorities and the Islamabad administration.
The authorities believe the SC order does not fall within the legal framework meant for providing facilities to a convicted person under prison laws, he added.
“The authorities propose seeking a modification of the order so that Imran could instead undergo a medical assessment at a government hospital,” the law minister added.
The law minister argued that if one prisoner is taken to a private hospital, there are thousands of other prisoners in jails who also have health issues.
According to the law, a medical board decides whether a prisoner should be treated in jail or transferred to a hospital. If the board recommends treatment outside the jail, the prisoner is taken to a government hospital, he added.
“Until evidence is received that government hospitals are unable to provide the required treatment, such arrangements are not made,” the law minister said.
He maintained that the SC’s order would create several complications, questioning whether the order would apply to all prisoners.
The law minister said the government would approach the SC to remove the ambiguity.
SC ruling ‘based on merit’: Sanaullah
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah earlier in the day described the SC’s ruling to transfer Khan to hospital as “independent and based on merit”.
Speaking to journalists outside the Parliament House, the PML-N senator said that the PTI had taken too long to pursue the legal route, adding that if the party had opted for legal means, relief would have come earlier.
“The PTI placed its case before the right forum, and the decision has come on merit,” he said. Sanaullah urged the PTI to respect the courts even when decisions did not go in their favour.
He also reiterated that the Prime Minister’s Offer for talks had been available for a long time but had not received a positive response from the opposition.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry gave assurances that the SC’s order would be implemented in letter and spirit, describing the judiciary’s decision as a vindication of the government’s position.
He said courts were the only channel through which any path to relief could be found, adding that he had seen PTI senators praising the SC. “The PTI has now become convinced that the courts are delivering justice.”
Chaudhry said the prime minister did not have the executive authority to say anything contrary to court decisions, and reiterated that the prime minister’s offer for dialogue remained open and should be taken seriously by the opposition.
