PTI questions Imran Khan’s transfer to Pims
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leaders have raised serious questions over the decision to take former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) instead of Shifa International Hospital.
The issue has created a fresh political dispute between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking in the National Assembly, senior politician and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai said a positive atmosphere had developed after reports emerged that Imran would be taken to hospital.
Achakzai said people across Pakistan were happy to hear that Imran was being taken to hospital for a medical examination.
He said his party had instructed its workers not to go to any hospital. The decision was aimed at avoiding any situation that could create security problems, he added.
Achakzai also claimed that Imran’s sisters were stopped at Shifa International Hospital. He said the development had caused concern among people across the country.
He questioned why the situation changed after an apparently positive atmosphere had developed.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan strongly criticised the decision to take Imran to Pims.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Gohar said the party had not expected Imran to be taken to another hospital.
He also expressed concern over the lack of clear information about the former prime minister’s medical examination.
Gohar claimed that the Supreme Court’s order had not been implemented. He said the court’s directive was clear and contained no ambiguity.
According to Gohar, failure to implement a clear judicial order was unfortunate.
He questioned how democracy could function if court orders could not be implemented.
“If implementing a court order is difficult, then how will democracy function?” he asked.
Gohar also said political negotiations could not take place under such circumstances. He maintained that democracy required institutions and political actors to respect the law and judicial decisions.
Despite his criticism, the PTI chairman said his party remained committed to negotiations.
He said the PTI wanted political disputes to be resolved through dialogue. He added that efforts in this regard would continue.
The controversy follows Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s statement about Imran’s medical examination.
Tarar said Imran was examined at Pims rather than Shifa International Hospital. He said doctors from Shifa were also present during the medical examination.
The government has maintained that security concerns led authorities to take Imran to Pims.
The issue has now become a new point of confrontation between the government and PTI.
The PTI is questioning the decision to change the hospital and the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directive. The government, meanwhile, is defending the move on security and medical grounds.
