Imran Khan’s sister moves SC for early hearing on contempt plea over hospital transfer, reviving a legal standoff that has gripped Islamabad for over a week. Dr Uzma Khan filed the fresh application on Thursday, arguing that further delay could cause “irreparable harm” to her brother’s health.
The move comes just days after the apex court scheduled the same contempt case for September 16 — a date PTI insists is too far away.
Uzma Khan’s Fresh Plea Before the Top Court
Dr Uzma Khan, filing through Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari, asked the Supreme Court to fix her contempt petition for hearing this week or next. She argued that case-fixation policies shouldn’t stand in the way of matters involving life and health.
- Requested initiation of contempt proceedings against government functionaries
- Cited “deliberate and clear disobedience” of the August 18 court order
- Asked the bench to reconsider the September 16 date entirely
What the Supreme Court’s August 18 Order Actually Said
The order, authored by Justice Shahid Waheed, directed jail authorities to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days for assessment and treatment. It also called for a dedicated medical board and weekly family meetings.
The bench was explicit about the state’s obligations. “A prisoner does not, by reason of his incarceration, cease to be entitled to humane treatment and necessary medical care,” the order stated, tying the transfer directly to constitutional protections.
PIMS vs Shifa: The Heart of the Compliance Dispute
Instead of Shifa, authorities took Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a state-run facility, for his check-up before returning him to Adiala Jail. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Shifa doctors were present at PIMS regardless.
READ MORE: Imran Khan Transfer Review Plea Cites Legal Errors
PTI rejects that explanation outright. Its lawyers argue the court named Shifa specifically, and swapping venues — even with the same doctors — doesn’t satisfy the letter of the order.
Timeline: How the Hospital Transfer Row Unfolded
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2026 | SC orders transfer to Shifa International Hospital within two days |
| Aug 20–21, 2026 | Khan briefly taken to Shifa overnight, then returned to Adiala |
| Aug 22, 2026 | Government files review petition against the transfer order |
| Aug 24, 2026 | SC fixes contempt plea for hearing on September 16 |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Uzma Khan files second application for an early hearing |
Imran Khan’s Health and Legal Backdrop
Khan, 73, has been jailed since August 2023 on convictions he and PTI call politically motivated. A medical board report flagged fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches and significant anxiety in the weeks before the August ruling.
- Sentenced to 17 years in the Toshakhana-II case in December 2025
- Also serving time in a separate corruption case tied to a UK-based trust
- Faces additional pending trials linked to the May 9, 2023 protests
The Contempt Case and the September 16 Hearing
The same three-judge bench — Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim — that issued the original order will hear the contempt matter. Registered as Case No. 8/2026, the petition seeks show-cause notices against officials allegedly responsible for the PIMS diversion.
PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja and Uzair Bhandari filed the petition on Uzma’s behalf, after an earlier version was returned by the registrar’s office over incomplete paperwork.
Government Pushback: The Review Petition
The federal government has separately challenged the transfer order itself, filing a review petition arguing the court’s directive exceeded its jurisdiction by naming a private facility. The petition claims a relevant statutory provision “escaped notice” of the court.
That review was also returned once by the registrar over procedural objections before being resubmitted. Its fate remains tied to the same broader dispute over Khan’s custody arrangements.
What Comes Next
Whether the Supreme Court grants an expedited hearing this week — as Uzma Khan is requesting — or holds firm to September 16 will shape the next phase of this standoff. Either outcome carries political weight well beyond the hospital room.
- An early hearing would test how strictly the court enforces its own orders
- A refusal would likely fuel PTI’s narrative of deliberate non-compliance
- The government’s parallel review petition adds a second layer of uncertainty
Do you think the Supreme Court should fast-track this contempt hearing, or let the September 16 date stand?
