The family and opposition party of imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan on Friday accused authorities of violating a Supreme Court (SC) order by taking him to a government hospital (PIMS) for a medical examination instead of a private hospital (Shifa Hospital) designated by the court.
The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) PTI slammed the government for "flouting" the orders issued by the Supreme Court for moving incarcerated party founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital Islamabad.
Imran Khan's sister Dr Uzma, who was present for his medical examination, told reporters alongside his personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan that they had received a phone call on Thursday to reach Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, where Khan is incarcerated. "
So we reached the jail at around 8-8:30pm," she said, adding that they were then taken to the room of a deputy superintendent, whom she identified as Sibtain.
"Later, Sibtain asked Dr Sultan to go outside the room with him and me to stay in the room. Then, after around 10 to 15 minutes, a female assistant sub-inspector took me to a car."
Dr Uzma said that all this while, police did not answer any of her queries, including those about Dr Sultan. She said she was then taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad.
"I asked them why you have brought me here; the Supreme Court has instructed for (Khan's) treatment at Shifa International Hospital. At that, they told me we were there for a follow-up regarding Imran's eye."
On the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed regret over the government and administration conduct on Thursday.
"A decision by three judges of the Supreme Court was thrown in the dustbin," he said, terming the act contempt of court. "
Judges across Pakistan now have to decide whether to get their decisions implemented or shut courts."
As Dr Uzma conveyed Imran Khan's message to him, he said he would be expediting his movement for the founder's release.
He said the PTI would file a contempt plea over Thursday night's episode. He rejected claims that any PTI workers had gathered outside Shifa International Hospital on Thursday night.
Recounting her visit to PIMS on Thursday night, Dr Uzma said, "There was darkness all around."
She said she was taken to an office as a man used the torch from his mobile phone to light the way. She said she assumed the office belonged to the head of a department at PIMS.
"We sat there for a while, and then they took me upstairs. When I went upstairs, Imran was sitting there. He too was a little surprised. He then stood up, he was in shock. He told the doctors who were with him that she is my sister and we were meeting after 10 months," she recalled.
Dr Uzma said she told him he was there for a check-up and would later be taken to Shifa International Hospital, adding that she also enquired about Dr Sultan at PIMS but received no response. She said they were then taken back to an office, where an examination of Imran's eye was conducted.
"There were two to three doctors there, but I was not familiar with any of them. They introduced me to Dr Arif, but I did not know any of the others," she said.
Imran Khan's sister said that during a meeting with her, Imran Khan complained that he had been kept in solitary confinement, which she said amounted to mental torture for him.
Dr Sultan told reporters that he was taken to Shifa International Hospital from the Adiala Jail while Dr Uzma was taken to PIMS.
"There were security arrangements there, and I was asked to wait at the hospital. We kept waiting for around two to two and a half hours. I kept asking and they kept on saying that he (Khan) was arriving. I think they, too, were not completely aware of what the plan exactly was. Around 4:15-30pm, they told me that it seemed he (Khan) may not be able to come, and he probably had returned, and that I too should return," he said.
Dr Sultan said he saw Dr Uzma disembarking from another car upon reaching the Adiala jail, and then the two came to know that they were taken to separate hospitals.
Khan’s sister Uzma Khan told a news conference she was present at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government-run hospital in Islamabad, when Khan was brought there overnight.
Dr Faisal Sultan, said he had been escorted to Shifa International Hospital, where he waited for Khan until early Friday. He said he was eventually told that Khan had returned to Adiala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
The accounts came hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan had been returned to prison after doctors examined him and found him medically fit.
Tarar said authorities took Khan to the public hospital because of security concerns involving supporters of PTI, who had gathered outside Shifa International Hospital or were heading there. He said Khan was found to be in good health.
Dozens of journalists gathered outside the private hospital overnight after Imran Khan’s party said he was being taken there. Authorities deployed heavy security around the facility.