• Dr Uzma moves apex court over ‘violation’ of its Aug 18 order
• PM, ministers, chief commissioner, interior secretary, jail officials named as respondents
• Tarar rejects contempt charge, accuses PTI of politicising health issue
ISLAMABAD: Political showdown over former premier Imran Khan’s medical check-up intensified on Saturday as his sister, Dr Uzma Khan, filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court against officials for flouting its Aug 18 order, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused her as well as the opposition party of breaching the court’s directives through politicising the matter.
The petition, filed by Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari on behalf of Dr Uzma, also requested the apex court to depute an officer or appoint a local commission to ensure that Imran Khan was immediately shifted to the private hospital in accordance with its earlier directions.
“Initiate contempt proceedings under Article 204 of the Constitution read with the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 and Order XXIX of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, against the respondents/contemnors for their wilful, deliberate and contumacious disobedience and violation of the Aug 18 Supreme Court order,” the petition pleaded.
On Aug 18, a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim had directed that Mr Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital while hearing petitions concerning his health and access to family members.
The court had also allowed the former PM’s sister Dr Uzma Khan and his personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, to remain present during his medical examination and treatment.
However, instead of being taken to Shifa International Hospital, the ex-premier was moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for examination and later whisked back to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the early hours of Saturday.
Dr Uzma named Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf, Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar, Punjab Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal, Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar as respondents.
The petition said it had been filed in light of the alleged non-compliance and “brazen violations” of the Supreme Court’s directions.
It argued that the Aug 18 order was “clear, unambiguous, unequivocal and fully capable of implementation” and had been issued in the presence of the Advocate General Islamabad and Additional Attorney General.
According to the petition, the respondents were under an absolute legal obligation to comply with the order “in letter and spirit”.
It also argued that the mere filing of a review petition by the chief commissioner did not suspend or alter the legal effect of the Supreme Court order and could not justify non-compliance.
The plea maintained that if any clarification or modification was required, or if there were security concerns as cited by government ministers, the authorities should have approached the court through an appropriate application before departing from its directions.
The petition alleged that the refusal to shift Mr Khan to Shifa International Hospital amounted to deliberate and wilful disobedience, interference with the process of law and obstruction of the judicial process.
It also contended that such conduct undermined the authority of the Supreme Court and warranted contempt proceedings.
The petition asked the court to issue notices to the respondents to show cause why they should not be proceeded against and punished for contempt and to require their personal appearance.
It also sought appropriate punishment for those found responsible and directions for full implementation of the Aug 18 order regarding Mr Khan’s medical examination.
Govt rejects allegations
Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected allegations of non-compliance and accused PTI of violating the court’s directions by politicising Mr Khan’s medical treatment.
Speaking at a news conference at state-run PTV, Mr Tarar said the administration had fully complied with the Supreme Court’s directions regarding the former prime minister’s examination and treatment.
He said the PTI was engaged in “false propaganda” despite the fact that the former prime minister’s medical examination was conducted in accordance with the court’s orders.
“The administration completely followed the honourable court’s instructions,” Mr Tarar said, adding that Imran Khan’s sister was also present at the time of his medical examination.
The minister said the incumbent government had maintained the same position on health-related matters that it had adopted now while in opposition, stressing that politics should not be brought into matters concerning anyone’s health.
“Our position has not changed in any way regarding the politicisation of health matters,” he said. “But Imran Khan’s statements about the health of others during his tenure in government were well known.”
Mr Tarar alleged that Imran Khan had made sarcastic and derogatory remarks about the health of political opponents during his government, while the present government had never adopted an insulting attitude towards anyone’s health. He said the government, in its review petition, had raised questions regarding equal facilities for all prisoners.
According to him, Imran Khan’s medical examination was conducted pursuant to the court’s order and all relevant matters were handled transparently in line with the court’s directions.
“Who gathered people in groups outside Shifa Hospital?” the minister questioned and asked who held a press conference in violation of the court’s orders. He said the court had clearly directed that the matter should not be politicised, but PTI had violated those instructions.
“Imran Khan’s sister and his party violated the court’s orders,” he alleged, adding that PTI had contradicted its own assurance by refusing to abide by the court’s directions.
The minister also claimed that the Punjab Bar Council and Pakistan Bar Council had distanced themselves from PTI’s political propaganda and warned that their names should not be used for political purposes.
He said the bar councils had also clarified that individual statements made by any member did not represent the councils.
Mr Tarar maintained that Imran Khan’s treatment had never been stopped and that he had continued to receive medical care. “His treatment was never stopped. This matter should not be sacrificed at the altar of politics,” he said.
He added that the government had presented the facts before the nation on a moment-by-moment basis and had ensured transparency in all matters in accordance with the intention of the court.
“PTI has become responsible for violating the court’s orders by politicising this matter,” Mr Tarar said.
Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2026
