The Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) in the case related to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital. A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, resumed the hearing of petitions related to ex-PM Imran's medical treatment and meetings with his family members. At the outset, Justice Waheed asked whether any of the parties were present in the courtroom.

Additional Attorney General Rana Asad then appeared before the bench and informed the judges that the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) had issued an order a day earlier seeking the record of the case from the top court. A day ago, the FCC summoned the Supreme Court's records of a case concerning the shifting of ex-PM Imran to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment.The FCC sought the records after a three-member bench heard appeals by three Adiala Jail inmates seeking treatment at private hospitals and facilities similar to those granted to the former premier. 

Justice Waheed subsequently asked whether the attorney general was present in his office. "Yes, the attorney general is present in the office," Asad replied. The Supreme Court then summoned the attorney general in person.PTI's senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja then appeared at the rostrum. "Attorney general should come; then we will hear everyone," Justice Waheed remarked, before directing that the AGP be summoned. The court subsequently ordered a brief pause in the proceedings.

The hearing follows the Supreme Court's August 18 order directing Adiala jail authorities to transfer Imran to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment until September 16.The August 18 order had also directed the formation of a medical board comprising specialists in medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and cardiology. Dr Uzma Khan and former health adviser Dr Faisal Sultan were permitted to remain associated with the PTI founder's medical examination and treatment.

The court had further sought Imran's complete medical record, details of his meetings over the previous three years and information about his communication with his sons.The Supreme Court had ordered that the former premier remain at Shifa until today's hearing and that his medical report not be used for political purposes. However, the former premier was instead taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). The government defended the decision on security grounds, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present at the Pims.

The development prompted Imran's sister, Dr Uzma Khan, to file a contempt petition against the alleged non-compliance with the Supreme Court's order. The petition was subsequently fixed for hearing before the three-member bench on September 16. Dr Uzma also sought an early hearing, arguing that Imran's health and life made the matter urgent and requesting implementation of the August 18 directive for his transfer to Shifa.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)