The legal battle over the medical treatment and family meetings of Imran Khan has further intensified as the Supreme Court registrar’s office has sent back the contempt petition filed by the PTI leader’s sister, Dr Uzma, after raising objections to the plea.

The petition was filed on Saturday by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which alleged that the government had failed to implement the order of August 18 by the Supreme Court to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital and hold weekly meetings between him and his family.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday told that the registrar had said objections had been raised and returned the petition's file.

“We will respond to the objections and re-file the contempt petition,” Gohar said, adding the party wanted the same bench to be constituted and the case fixed for hearing on Thursday.

The controversy comes after Imran was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 21 for a medical examination. Doctors declared him medically fit and he was sent back to Adiala Jail.

The government has defended the decision with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar citing security concerns due to PTI workers gathered outside and along the route to Shifa International Hospital.

The federal government meanwhile has challenged the Supreme Court’s directive of August 18, calling it discriminatory and asking that it be reviewed. However, the apex court refused an early hearing of the review petition saying it would hear it in its normal course.

PTI has also demanded a change in Imran’s medical board and inclusion of his sister Dr Uzma and personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan. Gohar said the party wanted all the recommended medical tests to be done.

The PTI chairman called the issue a “humanitarian crisis”, saying the party’s immediate concern was Imran’s health and not politics.

He enquired about the detention of Dr Faisal after he was taken to Shifa International, asking why he was kept in custody for five hours when Imran was not being taken to that hospital.

The standoff over the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order is now heading toward yet another legal round as PTI has vowed to refile the contempt petition after getting past the registrar’s objections.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)