Kathmandu— Uzma Khanum hadn’t seen her brother, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, in nearly a year. Following a Supreme Court order on Tuesday directing his transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical evaluation, she expected to reunite with him there by Thursday midnight. Instead, Friday unfolded as a night of confusion, according to Khanum and Khan’s personal physician, Faisal Sultan, who allege the government failed to comply with the court's directive and conducted a superficial examination at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) before returning him to jail.

Supreme Court Order and Initial Expectations

Pakistan’s Supreme Court had ordered authorities to transfer Imran Khan, 73, to Shifa International Hospital by midnight on Thursday. The order stemmed from concerns over his right-eye condition, which has required months of specialist treatment, and was central to a medical board report advocating for his release or improved care. Khan has been jailed since August 2023 on convictions his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claims are politically motivated; most have been suspended or overturned on appeal. His lawyer stated that under the order, Khan was to remain at Shifa under medical care until a hearing scheduled for September 16.

A Night of Conflicting Accounts

Sultan described being driven to Shifa around 12:30 am and waiting for three hours without access to a phone, repeatedly assured that Khan was “arriving shortly.” He ultimately returned to Adiala jail by 4:30 am without seeing his patient. Meanwhile, Khanum was taken to PIMS, where she said the examination was inadequate, lacking blood tests and requiring doctors to search for her brother’s prescription details. She stated officials continued to assure her they were still planning to transfer him to Shifa. Khan himself reportedly complained of being held in isolation for ten months without reading material or television, with his concerns about elevated blood pressure previously dismissed by jail doctors.

Government Response and PTI Criticism

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the government’s actions, stating that Khan was examined by a team of qualified doctors who deemed him “medically fit,” with Khanum present. He attributed the shift to PIMS to security concerns caused by PTI workers near Shifa Hospital. However, PTI disputed this account, asserting they had instructed supporters to stay away from Shifa and noting no independent reports of disturbances. Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader, called the government’s actions “a complete violation” of the Supreme Court’s orders, claiming it was a “sham” examination. Faisal Fareed, a lawyer who previously represented Khan, described the situation as an absolute violation of the court order and likened Khan's isolation to treatment unseen "perhaps not since the era of British colonial rule."

Allegations of Deception and Contempt

PTI alleges that sending Sultan to Shifa was a deliberate ploy to create the appearance of compliance while secretly transferring Khan to PIMS. The party is preparing to file a contempt petition with the Supreme Court, accusing the government of violating the court’s order. They also plan to raise the issue in the Punjab state and national assemblies. This incident occurs amidst internal messaging conflicts within PTI; Bukhari recently suggested Khan would not confront the army chief if released, a statement quickly refuted by another senior party leader who emphasized that any negotiations with the military require Khan's direct authorization.

The case is scheduled to return to court on September 16, though PTI’s lawyers intend to address Friday’s events before then, seeking redress for what they consider a blatant disregard of the Supreme Court’s directives.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.