SC Registers Dr Uzma Khan’s Contempt Plea Over Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has registered a contempt petition filed by Dr Uzma Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, after procedural objections raised by the Registrar’s Office were addressed. The petition concerns allegations that the authorities failed to fully comply with the apex court’s August 18 order regarding Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment.

The development comes amid an escalating legal dispute between PTI and the government over the medical treatment and transfer arrangements for the incarcerated former prime minister.

The petition was initially returned by the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office after objections were raised over its filing. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said one of the objections related to the absence of a list of allegations against the respondents. The party subsequently addressed the objections and resubmitted the petition.

Following the resubmission, the petition was assigned a case number and can now proceed through the Supreme Court’s judicial process. Reports identified it as Criminal Original Petition No. 8 of 2026.

Dispute Over Supreme Court’s August 18 Order

The controversy began after the Supreme Court issued an order on August 18 directing that Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala Jail, be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment.

The order also addressed arrangements for meetings between Khan and his family. PTI later alleged that the authorities did not implement the directions in the manner ordered by the court.

According to the PTI’s position, Imran Khan was instead taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical examination. The party argued that this did not comply with the Supreme Court’s specific direction concerning Shifa International Hospital.

The government, however, has maintained that the decision was taken because of security concerns surrounding the proposed transfer to Shifa International Hospital.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said doctors, including specialists from Shifa International Hospital, were present during the examination at PIMS. The government has also maintained that Imran Khan was medically fit following the examination.

Dr Uzma Seeks Contempt Proceedings

Dr Uzma Khan approached the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against those she believes were responsible for the alleged non-compliance with the court’s order.

The petition was filed through PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja and lawyer Uzair Bhandari. It requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings, issue show-cause notices and require the relevant officials to appear before the court.

The petition also sought measures to ensure that the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Imran Khan’s medical examination and treatment were implemented.

Dr Uzma has argued that the issue is primarily related to her brother’s health and medical care rather than political activity. PTI leaders have similarly described the matter as a humanitarian and legal issue.

PTI Wants Medical Board to Include Dr Uzma and Dr Faisal Sultan

Another major point raised by PTI concerns the composition of the medical team examining Imran Khan.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party wanted Dr Uzma Khan and Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, to be included in the medical board.

Gohar also called for the medical tests recommended by Imran Khan’s doctors to be conducted and said the party wanted the Supreme Court’s directions to be implemented fully.

PTI has argued that simply declaring Khan medically fit does not resolve its concerns about whether he received the specific medical examination and treatment contemplated by the court’s order.

Government Defends PIMS Examination

The government has presented a different account of the events.

Officials said security concerns made it difficult to take Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. The government argued that taking him to PIMS allowed doctors to conduct the required examination while avoiding security risks associated with the planned route and hospital surroundings.

According to the government’s account, doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also involved in the medical examination at PIMS.

This explanation has not satisfied PTI, which continues to insist that the Supreme Court’s order specifically required a transfer to Shifa.

The disagreement over the interpretation and implementation of the court order has consequently become the central issue in the contempt proceedings.

Who Has Been Named in the Petition?

The contempt petition names several senior government and prison officials as respondents.

Reports said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar were among those named, along with senior officials including Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf, Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar, Punjab Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal and Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig.

The inclusion of senior officials has increased the political significance of the case.

However, the allegations contained in the petition remain allegations and will have to be considered by the Supreme Court. The registration of a petition does not itself establish that any respondent committed contempt.

Early Hearing Also Requested

Dr Uzma has also sought an early hearing of the contempt petition, citing concerns regarding Imran Khan’s health.

PTI leaders have repeatedly called for the matter to be heard quickly, arguing that the issue concerns the former prime minister’s medical condition and the implementation of an existing Supreme Court order.

The request for an early hearing comes as the government is separately challenging the Supreme Court’s August 18 order.

Government Challenges the Original Order

The contempt proceedings are taking place alongside a separate legal challenge by the government.

The Islamabad chief commissioner has approached the Supreme Court seeking review and recall of the August 18 directive concerning Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital.

The government has argued that the order raises legal and procedural questions and has referred to the Pakistan Prison Rules in its challenge.

This means the Supreme Court may ultimately have to consider two interconnected questions: whether its original order was legally and properly issued, and whether government authorities complied with that order.

A Wider Legal and Political Battle

The dispute has become another major point of tension between PTI and the government.

For PTI, the matter concerns Imran Khan’s health, access to medical treatment and respect for Supreme Court orders. The party has argued that authorities must follow the court’s directions regardless of political circumstances.

For the government, security and prison-management considerations remain important factors in determining how an incarcerated individual can be moved between facilities.

The Supreme Court will ultimately have to assess the competing claims and determine whether any violation of its order occurred.

What Happens Next?

With the procedural objections now addressed and the petition assigned a case number, the matter can move forward before the Supreme Court.

The court may examine the original August 18 order, the circumstances surrounding Imran Khan’s transfer to PIMS, the medical examination conducted there and the government's explanation regarding security concerns.

It may also consider the PTI's request regarding the medical board and the participation of Dr Uzma Khan and Dr Faisal Sultan.

At this stage, the registration of the contempt petition should not be interpreted as a finding of contempt against any individual. The allegations will have to be considered through the judicial process.

The case is nevertheless significant because it places the implementation of a Supreme Court order directly at the centre of a dispute involving Imran Khan’s medical care, prison administration and the authority of the judiciary.

As proceedings move forward, attention is expected to remain focused on whether the court considers the August 18 directions to have been properly implemented and what further instructions, if any, it issues concerning Imran Khan’s medical treatment.