Federal govt seeks review of Imran Khan’s hospital transfer order

ISLAMABAD -- The federal government has filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former chairman Imran Khan to a private hospital.

The review petition was filed by Islamabad Chief Commissioner through the Advocate General Islamabad.

The petition contends that the Supreme Court issued an interim order on August 18 directing that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital. It argues that the court’s directive exceeded its jurisdiction and should therefore be reviewed.

The Supreme Court had ordered the transfer of Imran Khan to a private hospital on Tuesday and directed that a medical board be constituted to assess his health.

The PTI had welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it would respect the court’s ruling and would not politicise the matter concerning Imran Khan’s political affairs.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar had indicated that the federal government would seek a review of the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer Imran Khan to a private hospital. He said the move was aimed at ensuring that the PTI founder was medically examined at a government hospital.