Govt’s appeal against order to admit Imran Khan to hospital returned

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the jailed former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan to be taken to a private hospital. The Government of Pakistan filed a review petition against that order. The review petition was returned by the court registrar's office.

According to Pakistani media Dawn, the registrar's office said on Thursday that the required paper book was not completely attached with the application. For this reason the application is returned with objections after preliminary scrutiny.

But this is not a rejection of the government's plea in the original hearing of the court. Rather, the application was returned due to procedural objections related to documentation deficiencies.
According to the government of Pakistan, the review petition will be filed again in the Supreme Court after clearing the objections of the registrar's office and completing the necessary documents.

Earlier on August 18, the Supreme Court ordered Imran Khan to be taken from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital. The next day the government applied for reconsideration of the order.

According to the application, Imran Khan is being regularly treated and examined by the Medical Board. There is no evidence of any deterioration in his physical condition which warrants special transfer to a private hospital. The government fears that if such facilities are given in Imran's case, other prisoners may seek treatment in private hospitals with similar demands.