Kathmandu— The Pakistani government is challenging a Supreme Court order directing the transfer of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, arguing that the decision bypassed standard legal procedures and could set a precedent for other prisoners. The review petition, filed Wednesday by the chief commissioner’s office in Islamabad, comes after the court ordered prison authorities to move Khan from Adiala Jail within two days for medical assessment by a five-member specialist board. The Supreme Court also granted Khan weekly family visits and bi-weekly phone calls with his sons while restricting public discussion of his health until a hearing on September 16.

Government Objections to the Ruling

The government’s review petition centers on the claim that the court overstepped its authority by ordering Khan's transfer without first consulting prison officials. Officials warn this could open the door for other inmates to demand similar treatment, potentially straining resources and creating legal complications. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated the order “does not fall within the legal parameters governing the facilities that can be provided to a convicted person in jail,” emphasizing that medical decisions should rest with a designated board rather than judicial intervention.

Conflicting Signals from Government Officials

Despite initially indicating compliance, government officials have presented conflicting stances on the Supreme Court’s order. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhary assured the Senate that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would abide by the court's decision, stating he had “no authority to go against judicial decisions.” However, this statement was quickly overshadowed by the announcement of the review petition just hours later, prompting accusations of hypocrisy from opposition leaders. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also accused Khan’s PTI party of previously politicizing the health issues of political opponents.

PTI Response and Concerns

Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sheikh Waqas Akram criticized the government's contradictory position, questioning why they would object to a ruling they initially claimed to respect. He also revealed that prior to the court’s decision, government officials had signaled an interest in dialogue with PTI leaders. Another PTI leader, Zulfi Bukhari, noted apparent division within the government regarding the Supreme Court order, suggesting some officials favored compliance while others viewed it as a threat. Akram further emphasized that the review petition does not suspend the original court order, meaning Khan should be transferred to the hospital immediately.

As of Wednesday, the Supreme Court has yet to respond to the government’s review petition, leaving Imran Khan's immediate medical care and location uncertain. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 16.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.