Dr. Uzma Khan, the sister of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday. In this petition, she challenges a ruling by the Islamabad High Court, which had rejected requests to transfer Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital, grant access to his personal physicians, allow meetings with family and lawyers, and provide medical updates to his family. This news was reported by the online publication Dawn.
Filed through senior counsel Uzair Karamat Bhandari, the petition states that while the petitioner was not a party to the proceedings in the Islamabad High Court, she has nonetheless been aggrieved by the said ruling. In this regard, reference is made to a Supreme Court judgment in the H.M. Saya case, which established that any individual aggrieved by a decree or order has the right to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
The petition notes that Imran Khan and his wife are currently detained in Adiala Jail, while his two sons reside abroad. As his sister—and a physician by profession—the petitioner naturally harbors deep love and affection for her brother. She expresses profound concern regarding Imran’s health and well-being, which, the petition alleges, has been jeopardized due to the actions and negligence of the respondents.
It further asserts that the petitioner is Imran Khan’s closest living relative in Pakistan; she therefore possesses the legal standing to file this appeal.
The petition highlights that the prison authorities have obstinately refused to deliver the Vakalatnama (power of attorney)—duly signed by Imran Khan—to his legal counsel. Consequently, he has been unable to personally file a petition challenging the contentious High Court ruling thus far. The petition argues that if the High Court’s judgment is not set aside, it could have a direct adverse impact on the petitioner’s own case. Therefore, the petitioner is aggrieved by the said judgment and retains the legal right to challenge it.
The petition prays to the Supreme Court to suspend the operation of the Islamabad High Court’s judgment during the pendency of the case, and to issue directives for an immediate medical examination of Imran Khan by physicians of his choice. Specifically named among these physicians are Dr. Khurram Mirza, Dr. Asim Yusuf, Dr. Faisal Sultan, and Dr. Samina Niaz. Additionally, the petition seeks directives to facilitate meetings between Imran Khan and his physicians, family members, and legal counsel.
