- Gohar expects Supreme Court to hear contempt plea soon.
- SC Registrar assured bench can be constituted: PTI chief.
- PTI challenges alleged violation of Imran hospital transfer order.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday rejected speculation about any deal involving incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, saying he would not have spent years locked up had he wanted to make an agreement.
“Imran does not make deals,” Gohar said while speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, adding: “If he wanted to make a deal, he would not have spent three years in prison.”
Gohar also said Imran did not want to stay in hospital even for a minute and only wanted to undergo the required medical tests.
The remarks come amid the PTI’s legal challenge over the alleged violation of the Supreme Court’s order concerning Imran’s hospital transfer.
The PTI chairman said he had visited the top court to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, but the meeting could not take place as the top jurist was busy.
He said he and senior lawyer Latif Khosa met the Supreme Court’s registrar, who assured them that a bench could be constituted to hear the petition.
Gohar said the bench could also be constituted through an online process, adding that he hoped the Supreme Court would schedule the petition for hearing soon.
The PTI filed a contempt petition in the apex court on Saturday, alleging that the authorities violated the court’s directions regarding the former premier’s transfer specifically to Shifa International Hospital.
Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) during the intervening night of August 20 and 21 for a medical examination and was later taken back to Adiala jail after the examination was completed.
The PTI said the authorities had violated the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, which directed Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination.
The petition sought contempt proceedings against those allegedly responsible for violating the court’s order, along with show-cause notices and directions for their personal appearance.
It also sought Imran’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital and asked the court to appoint a judicial officer or constitute a local commission to oversee implementation of its order.
The petition names Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar as respondents.
Separately, the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad filed an application in the Supreme Court two days ago, seeking an early hearing of the review petition against the court’s August 18 order directing Imran’s transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital.
The application sought an early hearing of the review petition and requested the court to review, amend and withdraw its August 18 order.
PTI chief rejects other reports
Gohar also said the PTI was not politicising the issue, stressing that Imran’s health was important to the party.
Asked about his meetings with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Gohar confirmed that such meetings had taken place but said details could not be disclosed.
He also rejected reports that Imran had expressed displeasure with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during a meeting with his sister, Dr Uzma Khan.
“I met the PTI founder’s sister, but she did not disclose much, as promised,” Gohar said, adding that it was incorrect to claim that Imran had expressed displeasure over Afridi.
Govt rejects PTI allegations
The government, however, maintains that it fully complied with the Supreme Court directives.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said Imran’s medical examination was conducted at Pims, with doctors from Shifa International Hospital also participating.
Tarar attributed the decision to take Imran to Pims to security concerns arising from the presence of PTI workers along the route to and outside Shifa Hospital, saying the authorities had fulfilled all requirements set by the court.
He also described the PTI’s contempt petition as “baseless” and accused the party and Imran’s family of creating a security risk by gathering people outside Shifa International Hospital.
