Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, was returned to Adiala jail after a brief examination at the state‑run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, prompting his Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) party to file a contempt petition against the prime minister, law minister and information minister for allegedly breaching a Supreme Court order to move him to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours.
On Tuesday a three‑judge bench ordered the transfer, but on Friday officials took Khan to PIMS for a check‑up, denied him his personal physician Faisal Sultan and limited family access. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited security risks from PTI supporters as the reason for bypassing Shifa, while PTI legal adviser Naeem Panjutha named the prime minister, law minister and information minister in the petition.
The episode heightens political tension ahead of a PTI‑organized protest slated for September 27, and adds to concerns over rule‑of‑law compliance that could weigh on Pakistan’s security outlook and foreign‑investment sentiment. Analysts warn that any further escalation may pressure fiscal stability and raise the country’s borrowing costs.
The government maintains the PIMS check‑up found no urgent condition and cites PTI‑generated security risks for diverting Khan from Shifa, while PTI argues the court order was only superficially fulfilled, denying Khan access to his personal doctor and contravening the Supreme Court’s directive.