Pakistan's Supreme Court registrar's office on Tuesday, 25 August returned a contempt of court petition filed by Uzma Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, over the government's failure to comply with the apex court's 18 August order directing his transfer to Shifa International Hospital. The move prolongs a legal standoff between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistani authorities over the incarcerated former premier's medical care.

What Happened at the Supreme Court

PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, confirmed that the registrar's office had raised objections to the petition and returned the file. He said the party would address those objections and re-file the contempt plea. Gohar Ali Khan added that the 18 August order — which directed authorities to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital and arrange weekly family meetings — had not been enforced.

The original contempt petition had been filed on 22 August after the court's directive went unimplemented. The return of the file does not constitute a dismissal; PTI is expected to resubmit after addressing the procedural objections.

Government Files Review Petition

The Pakistani government has simultaneously filed a review petition before the Supreme Court, reportedly terming the apex court's hospitalisation order 'discriminatory in nature.' The dual legal manoeuvres — PTI pushing for enforcement while the government challenges the order itself — reflect the depth of the institutional friction surrounding Imran Khan's detention.

Detention Conditions Draw International Scrutiny

Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023, following convictions that PTI has consistently described as politically motivated. Since his removal from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple cases, including allegations involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.

Last month, UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Alice Jill Edwards, publicly raised concerns about Imran Khan's detention conditions and his alleged lack of access to adequate medical care. According to her statements, Khan has been held in near-total solitary confinement for 33 months in a small, windowless cell under 24-hour CCTV surveillance, often going more than two weeks without exercise or meaningful human contact.

Edwards stated that these conditions 'far exceed the Mandela Rules' — the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. She also expressed concern over reports that Khan is suffering from serious medical issues, including a spinal injury sustained in a 2013 accident and bullet wounds from a November 2022 assassination attempt, neither of which has reportedly been treated appropriately. Edwards separately flagged concerns over the detention conditions of Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, urging Pakistan to provide her access to appropriate medical treatment in line with international law.

What Happens Next

PTI is expected to refile the contempt petition after addressing the registrar's objections, while the government's review petition remains pending before the Supreme Court. The outcome of both proceedings will determine whether the 18 August hospitalisation order is ultimately enforced, challenged, or modified. International pressure, including from the UN, is likely to keep the matter in focus.