3 more Adiala inmates seek private treatment after SC order on Imran's hospital transfer

ISLAMABAD: Three Adiala Jail inmates have petitioned the Islamabad High Court for private hospital treatment and enhanced family communication, in response to the Supreme Court's directive to transfer former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a private facility for medical evaluation. The government's review petition warns that permitting convicts to seek treatment in private hospitals could trigger a "floodgate" of similar requests from other inmates.

The IHC is currently reviewing the issue, with Justice Muhammad Asif seeking input from the jail superintendent on petitions filed by Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan, and Owais Altaf. Barrister Akhtar Chheena, representing Ismail Khan, claimed his client suffers from haemophilia and has undergone internal bleeding, necessitating treatment at Shifa International Hospital.

He insisted that such treatment is unavailable at government hospitals, and the court should set up a medical board to assess the necessity of private care. Owais Altaf's lawyer argued for his client's transfer to Shifa International Hospital due to a heart condition and fever, asserting that these ailments are also not treatable in government facilities. Ismail Khan's counsel also sought permission to communicate with his brother residing in Dubai.