ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital after security agencies were unable to provide security clearance for the private hospital.
Speaking on a private TV programme, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the administration, Islamabad Police and other law enforcement agencies had initially completed extensive security arrangements for Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa Hospital.
He added that the area around the hospital had been cordoned off, security personnel deployed, and arrangements made to ensure the safe transfer of the PTI founder from Adiala Jail.
According to the federal minister, Imran Khan had also left Adiala Jail when security agencies reassessed the situation during the transfer.
He added that after that, police and law enforcement agencies decided that they were not in a position to completely control the law and order situation, denying security clearance for Shifa Hospital.
According to the federal minister, it was then decided to shift Imran Khan to PIMS, while Shifa International doctors were also brought to the facility for Khan’s medical examination.
Chaudhry said that several factors, including the presence of PTI workers and media representatives, were considered from a security perspective for the transfer of the former prime minister.
Responding to a question about why Shifa Hospital could not be secured if PIMS was considered safe, Tariq Fazal said the decision was taken by security agencies after assessing the situation.
“If security agencies express reservations about their ability to secure a particular building or maintain law and order, the government has to take their assessment into account,” he said.
He maintained that the decision was not political but was based on the assessment of the security situation.
‘SC order fulfilled’
Referring to the Supreme Court order, the Federal Minister said that except for changing the hospital at the last minute, all other points of this order were fully implemented.
He said the fact that some concerned individuals were present at Shifa International Hospital and were unaware of the decision to shift Imran Khan to PIMS did not mean that the Supreme Court’s order had been deliberately violated or that the decision was politically motivated.
He further said that the impression that Imran Khan was shifted to the hospital for treatment or medical examination for the first time is not correct. He added that Imran Khan has been brought to PIMS for medical examination 6 times in the last 6 months.
Earlier today, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar confirmed that PTI founder Imran Khan has been shifted back to Adiala Jail after a medical examination at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
In a statement issued on X, Attaullah Tarar said that in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, the prisoner [Imran Khan] was shifted to the hospital [without specifically naming any facility] during the night between August 20 and 21 under appropriate security arrangements.
According to the federal minister, a team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, and physician, conducted a detailed medical examination of Imran Khan and declared him medically fit.
Atta Tarar added that Imran Khan’s sister Uzma Khan was present during all stages of the medical examination and treatment. After the medical procedure was completed, he was shifted back to Adiala Jail at around 5 am on Friday.
In a subsequent post, Tarar confirmed that Khan’s medical examination was conducted at PIMS, in which doctors from Shifa Hospital were also present.
“In light of the security situation created by PTI workers on the way to and outside Al Shifa Hospital, he was taken to Pims and, according to the medical examination, was found healthy,” he said.
He said that Imran had been provided medical treatment in the past and would continue to be provided them in the future.
In a subsequent post, Tarar confirmed that Khan’s medical examination was conducted at PIMS, in which doctors from Shifa Hospital were also present.
“In light of the security situation created by PTI workers on the way to and outside Al Shifa Hospital, he was taken to Pims and, according to the medical examination, was found healthy,” he said.
He said that Imran had been provided medical treatment in the past and would continue to be provided them in the future.
