Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Friday questioned how political negotiations with the government could move forward after what he described as the failure to implement a Supreme Court (SC) order regarding the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital.
Gohar was reacting to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s statement that Imran was not admitted to Shifa International Hospital as expected following the SC directive. Instead, he was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination before being returned to Adiala Jail. Tarar said doctors from Shifa were present during the examination and declared Imran medically fit.
The Supreme Court had ordered that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for several days and directed the government to facilitate weekly meetings between him and his family. The government subsequently filed a review petition against the order, describing it as discriminatory.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gohar said the government’s handling of Imran’s transfer had undermined PTI’s efforts to resolve political issues through dialogue.
“What happened was very unfortunate. We did not expect this,” Gohar said, adding that the party had made significant efforts to find a political solution.
He maintained that the Supreme Court’s order was clear and required Imran to be shifted to a hospital and undergo the necessary medical tests. According to Gohar, there was no ambiguity in the directive that would have justified a different course of action.
Gohar said PTI had been assured that the court order would be implemented and that he had personally checked the arrangements. He questioned why Imran was taken to PIMS instead of Shifa and why his family was not properly informed about the process.
He also questioned what medical tests had been conducted and what conclusions had been reached during the examination, reiterating that the Supreme Court order had not been properly implemented.
Responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for political dialogue, Gohar said PTI remained committed to finding a political solution but criticised the government’s approach to negotiations.
“Negotiations do not happen like this,” he said, questioning how democracy could function if the government could not provide political space to a major party or implement an order of the Supreme Court.
Later, speaking in the National Assembly, Gohar warned that PTI could reconsider its participation in Parliament.
“Perhaps you do not want us to remain part of this system,” he said, adding that the party could decide within the next few days whether to continue participating in the assembly.
Also read: Imran Khan shifted to Shifa International Hospital under tight security