Imran's hospital transfer: SC turns down Uzma's application seeking early hearing of contempt plea

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a second application by Dr Uzma Khan, Imran Khan's sister, for an early hearing on a contempt of court plea against government officials for disregarding the August 18 directive to transfer Imran Khan to a private hospital. The contempt of court petition had already been scheduled for hearing before a three-judge SC bench, comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, on September 16.

The same bench will resume hearing pending cases related to Imran Khan's health and family meetings on September 16. The bench had previously heard the pleas on August 18 and ordered Imran's transfer to Shifa International Hospital within two days. Ignoring Uzma's request for an earlier hearing, the SC office maintained that the fixation policy requires proceedings to be conducted in a turn-wise manner.

The bench cited that there were already 94 different criminal original petitions in the same category pending before the SC for hearing, and the fixation policy demands that cases be fixed for hearing when it is their turn. Uzma's application argued that the contempt petition aimed to ensure the immediate implementation of the August 18 order, safeguarding Imran Khan's life, health, dignity, and physical well-being, as Imran's health had deteriorated and his life was in jeopardy.

The applicant also contended that the reasons provided for the fixation policy did not justify such a significant delay in the hearing.