ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday set aside objections on pleas, seeking to shift PTI’s founder chairman Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for treatment and issued a notice to the government seeking a response by March 10.
The court was approached on Monday with a plea seeking the immediate shifting of incarcerated Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialised eye treatment, alleging that jail authorities have been conducting medical examinations in complete secrecy.
A two-judges division bench comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the pleas. During the course of proceedings today, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir remarked “it will take two to three days to prepare the paper book. A notice has been issued to the State on your request for hospital transfer. The main appeal is being scheduled next week. Come prepared for the next hearing.”
PTI’s petition, filed under Section 561-A of the CrPC by senior counsel Sardar Latif Khosa, stated that Mr Khan — now 73 years old and incarcerated since August 2023 — has been left with only approximately 15 per cent vision in his right eye. The petition cited a report submitted to the Supreme Court by amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar, which confirmed that despite the petitioner’s repeated complaints of “blurred and hazardous vision”, no timely or adequate medical intervention was undertaken by jail authorities, ultimately resulting in complete loss of vision in one eye.
The petition had raised concern over a medical examination conducted at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, on February 15, noting that it took place without the presence of Mr. Khan’s family, personal physicians, or legal counsel. It further stated that they had received no prior notification of the check-up.
