Pakistan SC to hear former PM Imran Khan's sister's contempt plea on September 16

Hearing Scheduled Amid Contempt Allegations

Pakistan's Supreme Court will hear a contempt petition filed by Uzma Khan, sister of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, on September 16, after the court's registrar's office rejected her request for an early hearing. The petition alleges that the government failed to implement a Supreme Court order from August 18 directing that Imran Khan be transferred from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The registrar's office ordered the petition to be fixed for hearing on the same date as the main case in which the August 18 directions were issued. A three-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim will hear the matter, according to The Express Tribune.

Registrar's Rationale

According to the registrar's order on Uzma's early hearing application, 94 criminal original petitions of the same category were already pending before the court, excluding her petition, which was filed last. "Fixation policy requires fixation of case on their turn in relevant category, and it is unlikely that its turn may reach nearer," the order said. However, since the main case was already fixed for September 16, the contempt petition could also be fixed on the same date.

Earlier on Tuesday, the registrar's office had raised objections to the petition, which were subsequently removed the same day. Uzma then filed an application seeking early fixation, arguing that Imran Khan's health was deteriorating and that further delay could cause irreparable loss.

The application alleged that the government had disobeyed the August 18 order directing that Imran be shifted within two days. It also contended that if the government required any clarification, it should have approached the court instead of deviating from the directions, and argued that in the absence of a stay order, there was no justification for withholding implementation.

PTI's Push for Urgency

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa had earlier sought a meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi for early fixation but could not meet him. According to sources, Gohar Khan is likely to meet the Chief Justice on Thursday.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Gohar Khan said the PTI wanted the August 18 order to be implemented and had requested an early hearing of the contempt petition. "We want the same bench to be constituted today so that the case can be heard on Thursday," he said. He also stressed the importance of Imran Khan's health and called for meetings between the former Prime Minister and his family.

Government's Review Petition

The Pakistan government has filed a review petition challenging the August 18 order directing Imran's transfer, describing the direction as "discriminatory in nature." The government has expressed serious reservations over shifting Imran to a private hospital and sought modification of the order.

The Supreme Court's decision to hear the contempt petition alongside the main case will allow the bench to consider both the alleged non-implementation and the government's request to review the original order.