Contempt petition against govt: IK’s sister submits second application to SC for early hearing

ISLAMABAD: Dr Uzma Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, on Thursday submitted a second application to the Supreme Courtseeking the early hearing of a contempt petition against government functionaries accused of flouting the court’s directive to move the PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination. Imran’s sister filed thesecond application, wherein she urged the Court to fix the plea this week or at the earliest possible date next week, instead of September 16, warning that further delay could cause “serious and irreparable harm” to Imran. In her application, she contendsthat Imran’s health is deteriorating in jail, and contrary to the Supreme Court’s order, he was taken to PIMS. She requested that he be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment. A three-member bench, headed by Justice ShahidWaheed and comprising Justice Naeem Akhter Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, on August 18, 2026, directed the government to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. However, on August 21, Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), instead of Shifa Hospital, in the early hours of the morningand taken back to AdialaJail after doctors declared him “medically fit”. On August 22, DrUzmafiled a contempt petition under Articles 187 and 204 of the Constitution, read with Order XXIX rules 1 and 2 and Order XXXV rules 5 and 6 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. When the Court didn’t fix her petition, despite her request, she, on August 25, filed an application for an early hearing of her contempt of court plea. However, the SC Registrar Office declined her request and ordered that the contempt petition be fixed for hearing on September 16, along with the main case in which a three-member bench had directed the government to shift the former Prime Minister to Shifa Hospital. DrUzma’sfresh application raised questions over the listing of the case for September 16. “It is unclear whether the above constitute directions by the competent authority/chief justice for fixation of the contempt matter on 16. 09. 2026, or simply the noting of the Registrar which has been placed before the competent authority for consideration, ” it stated. “If the former is true, and the case has been fixed on 16. 09. 2026, it is respectfully requested that the directions be reconsidered and the matter be fixed for hearing expeditiously, either this week or as early as possible next week, ” it said. The application argued that the case warranted exceptional urgency, saying it was “unique on its facts and in the manner in which the order of this Court has been brazenly flouted”. “It has brought the governance and the judicial systems of Pakistan into critical focus internationally, ” the application said. It further argued that the reasons for delaying the hearing could not justify waiting until September 16. “The reasons set out above, with respect, cannot justify such a long delay in the hearing of the case, ” it stated. The applicant also relied on the SC’s case fixation policy, arguing that it did not prevent the immediate hearing of her contempt petition. “There is nothing in the case Fixation Policy of this Court which prevents the immediate fixation of the titled Crl. OP No. 8 of 2026, ” the application said. “In fact, the Fixation Policy clearly prioritises liberty-related matters, especially where they arise due to non-compliance with court orders, ” it added. DrUzma further pointed out that the fixation policy empowered the chief justice to order an early hearing. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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