Imran Khan’s PTI accuses Pakistan govt of defying SC order, threatens nationwide protests

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party on Friday accused the government of violating a Supreme Court order concerning his medical treatment and threatened to intensify protests across the country if the jailed leader is not released. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged that authorities failed to follow the apex court’s directions on where Khan should receive treatment, adding another flashpoint to the prolonged confrontation between the opposition party and the government.

The Supreme Court had on August 18 directed that the 73-year-old PTI founder be shifted from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to the privately run Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical care. PTI, however, alleged that Khan was instead taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday night, underwent medical examinations and was subsequently returned to Adiala Jail. The government has cited security concerns surrounding the private hospital for the change in arrangements.

PTI alleges court defiance

PTI leaders argued that taking Khan to a different medical facility and returning him to prison amounted to non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The party has indicated that it will pursue legal remedies over the matter, including contempt proceedings, while demanding that Khan receive treatment in accordance with the court’s instructions.

The dispute centres not simply on whether Khan underwent a medical examination, but on the conditions laid down by the Supreme Court. His party and family have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and access to doctors during his incarceration. They have also sought regular meetings with family members, lawyers and his personal physician.

Government officials have maintained that Khan was examined by medical professionals and was considered fit to remain in custody. Authorities have rejected allegations that he is being deliberately denied appropriate treatment, while arguing that security considerations have to be taken into account when arranging the movement of a high-profile prisoner.

Nationwide agitation threatened

The medical dispute has now become part of PTI’s broader political campaign for Khan’s release. Party leaders have warned that protests will be stepped up nationwide and have threatened a long march towards Islamabad if their demands are not addressed. The opposition has also sought faster hearings in the numerous cases involving Khan and greater access to the former premier while he remains incarcerated.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said PTI would intensify its mobilisation following instructions from Khan. The party has continued to treat its founder as its central political figure despite his prolonged imprisonment, using rallies and demonstrations to keep pressure on the government.

The prospect of another large mobilisation raises the possibility of renewed political tensions in Pakistan. Previous PTI demonstrations have resulted in confrontations with security forces, arrests and restrictions on gatherings, particularly when supporters have attempted to enter Islamabad.

Health becomes political flashpoint

Questions surrounding Khan’s health have assumed increasing political significance in recent months. His family and party have expressed concern about his eyesight and the effects of prolonged confinement, while government representatives have disputed suggestions that his condition requires urgent medical intervention.

The Supreme Court’s intervention was therefore viewed by PTI as an important development in its campaign to secure independent medical treatment for the former premier. The party maintains that the latest episode demonstrates why judicial oversight remains necessary, while the government insists that Khan is receiving appropriate care within the prison system.

The disagreement also comes as the government has sought clarification of aspects of the court’s decision, arguing that allowing a prisoner to select a private medical facility could have wider implications for the treatment of other inmates.

Political confrontation deepens

Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and has faced a series of criminal cases since his removal from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has consistently maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated, an allegation rejected by the government.

His incarceration has remained at the centre of Pakistan’s political divisions, with PTI repeatedly demanding his release and alleging that the country’s institutions are being used to keep its most influential leader out of politics. The authorities, meanwhile, maintain that the cases against him are matters for the courts.

The latest controversy over his medical treatment threatens to further harden those positions. What began as a dispute over compliance with a court-directed hospital visit is now feeding into PTI’s wider campaign against Khan’s imprisonment. With the party threatening nationwide mobilisation and legal action, the handling of the former Prime Minister’s health has become another test in Pakistan’s continuing political confrontation.