Federal government to challenge Supreme Court orders of Imran Khan hospital transfer

Web Desk
August 18, 2026

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against its order directing the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment, seeking a modification that would allow his examination at a government hospital.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that the government had reviewed the court’s directions and consulted with relevant authorities, including the jail administration and Islamabad administration.

Government’s Rationale

Tarar argued that the existing court order could create broader legal and administrative complications:

Argument	Detail
Precedent Concerns	Allowing one prisoner treatment at a private hospital could set a precedent for thousands of other inmates
Legal Framework	Law provides for a medical board to determine if treatment should be inside jail or at a government hospital
Evidence Standard	Prisoner should only be shifted to a private facility if government hospitals are unable to provide required treatment

“The law provides for a medical board to determine whether a prisoner should be treated inside jail or transferred to a hospital. If the board recommends treatment outside the jail, the prisoner would ordinarily be shifted to a government hospital.”

Medical Board Recommendations for Imran Khan

Supreme Court’s Order

The Supreme Court’s three-member bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, had on Tuesday ordered that Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours for medical assessment and treatment, where he is to remain until September 16, 2026.

The court also directed:

Formation of a five-member medical board including a physician, general surgeon, internist, ophthalmologist, and cardiologist
Allowance for Khan’s personal physician Dr. Faisal Sultan and sister Dr. Uzma Khan to participate in treatment
Weekly family meetings and twice-weekly telephone calls with his sons
Treatment expenses to be borne by Khan himself or his family

Medical Concerns

The order came following a medical report submitted by Adiala Jail authorities that detailed Khan’s health complaints:

Health Issue	Details
Blood Pressure	140/100 mmHg (recorded August 1, 2026)
Pulse Rate	50 beats per minute
Symptoms	Fluctuating BP, headaches, restlessness, palpitations

The medical board had recommended measures to reduce mental stress, including longer meetings with his wife and access to reading material.

Cross-Party Reactions

While Rana Sanaullah, PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs, described the court’s order as a decision made on merit and said the government respects the verdict, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman welcomed the ruling but said it should have come much sooner.

What’s Next?

The government is expected to present its legal arguments before the Supreme Court as part of the review process. However, the court has already directed the transfer to be completed within the next two days. It remains to be seen whether the review petition will be filed before the transfer takes place.