ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has returned with objections a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) seeking shifting of its founder Imran Khan to Shifa hospital for proper treatment of his eyes from retina specialist doctors.
On February 25, Khan’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa had filed an application in the apex court under Order XXXV Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, praying that the incarcerated PTI founder be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital Islamabad for proper treatment of his eyes from retina specialist.
He had also prayed the court to permit access of his personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, who may be associated with all the procedures of examination and treatment.
Similarly, the court was requested that Khan’s family members be duly informed with reasonable access to them during former prime minister’s medical check-up and treatment.
The SC Registrar Office, however, returned the petition on Friday after raising objections that as per the order of this court dated February 12, if the petitioner has any grievance, he may approach appropriate forum i.e. the Islamabad High Court, where his appeal is pending adjudication.
It was further objected that the instant application had not been filed through Advocate-on-Record (AOR), which is not maintainable entertainable under Order VII, Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025.
“Hence, this application along with paper books is returned herewith in original being Not Entertainable as per rules,” says the memorandum, issued by SC’s Senior Assistant Registrar (Criminal Branch) on the approval of Registrar SC.
The Registrar Office informed Latif Khosa that the subject application filed by him on behalf of the petitioner on February 25 in subject criminal petition, has already been ordered by the court to be adjourned sine die with the observation as under:-
“However, in due deference to the earlier orders passed by a three-member Bench of this Court dated 23.08.2023 and 24.08.2023, wherein it was observed that the Court would await the decision of the High Court before proceeding further in these petitions, we adjourn the present petitions sine die, to be taken up after the decision of the petitioner’s appeal before the High Court against the trial court’s judgment dated 05.08.2023.
“In the meantime, if the petitioner has any grievance, the appropriate course will be to first approach the High Court, where his appeal is pending adjudication,” the memorandum concluded.
Earlier on Friday, PTI founder’s lawyers Latif Khosa and Naeem Panjotha appeared before the court of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi.
“Please fix our petition for hearing,” Khosa told CJP Afridi, who, however, replied to Khosa that his petition was returned the other day along with objections, adding that the petition will remain pending until further orders.
“There is no such petition pending before the court on which proceedings can be conducted,” the CJP added. Khosa however, told the court that they had filed a request for an urgent hearing the other day.
Khosa further submitted that the court had ordered treatment for the PTI founder, to which CJP Afridi told Khosa that the court did not issue an order; rather, the government had given an assurance.
“Please read the court’s decision again; the health issue is not pending,” Justice Afridi told Khosa. Latif Khosa replied that the request for hospital transfer was on humanitarian grounds, not political or legal. At this, CJP Afridi replied that “a medical check-up was conducted on humanitarian grounds”.
“I have known you since 1992,” Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan replied to Latif Khosa. “I understand what you are saying and which channel you are speaking to,” Justice Hassan added.
“Mr. Khosa, you are a senior lawyer and must know the Supreme Court’s procedure,” the CJP told the PTI founder’s counsel.
The chief justice asked Latif Khosa to meet the registrar, adding that if they do not provide him with a copy of the objections, then he may approach the court.
Khosa submitted that “if an order was passed the other day then why no one informed them yet.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and senior lawyer Latif Khosa has strongly criticised the judicial system and jail administration, saying that the life of the PTI founder is in danger.
He said if the court could not deliver justice, it should put locks on itself, then let the people decide where Pakistan should go.
He expressed these views on Friday during a press conference held on the Supreme Court premises. He stated that a petition related to the PTI founder, filed in 2023, was scheduled for hearing on February 10, 2026.
Referring to the transfer of the PTI founder to Attock Jail, he said he was kept in an open shed facing a forest. Insects entered due to bright lights, and despite rain, he was not even provided with a charpoy or mattress.
Expressing regret, he said the judicial bench at that time had also sought a report on this matter, but after the change of the chief justice, the case disappeared for a long period.
He voiced serious concern over the deteriorating health of the PTI founder, revealing that he has suffered food poisoning three times in jail. He said the PTI founder has dental problems but has not been given access to a dental doctor.
His eye condition has worsened to the extent that there is a risk of loss of eyesight, yet there was no retina specialist available at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
He further said that when the PTI founder was transferred to the hospital, neither his family was informed nor was permission given to call his personal physician.
Latif Khosa added that three basic requests were presented before the chief justice’s bench on Friday: first, that the PTI founder be immediately shifted to a hospital; second, that he be provided treatment by his personal doctor under family supervision; and third, that lawyers be allowed to meet the PTI founder to obtain signatures on the power of attorney.
He said they are taunted by being told that despite being such senior lawyers, they cannot even get their case fixed for hearing. He added that if, despite the Supreme Court orders, they are not allowed to meet their client, then the court should be locked.
He further said that the Chief Justice has advised them to meet the registrar regarding the petitions. However, the situation is extremely alarming, and denying lawyers permission to meet the PTI founder amounts to the murder of justice.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi to immediately issue a judicial order regarding the medical treatment of Imran Khan.
Talking to journalists at the Supreme Court, he said people are concerned about Imran Khan’s health and that it is his basic right that, if he is ill, his family should be informed.
Sources said he also met CJP Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court regarding the transfer of the PTI founder to a hospital, and informed him that there is anxiety among the public and family members about the founder’s health.
Sources said that the Chief Justice, however, stated that the court order was clear that any issue should be taken to the high court.
Sources further said that the Chief Justice said that appeals are pending in the high court, and therefore the Supreme Court cannot intervene in this matter.
