Shafaqna Pakistan: Eight members of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Saturday strongly criticised what they described as the government’s “blatant, willful and deliberate violation” of the Supreme Court’s August 18 order concerning former prime minister Imran Khan’s medical examination.
The Supreme Court had ordered authorities to transfer Imran to Shifa International Hospital for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board. However, the government instead took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical assessment and treatment.
The decision has drawn strong criticism from PTI leaders and prompted the filing of a contempt of court petition before the Supreme Court on Saturday.
The eight PBC members said the government’s actions amounted to a disregard for the apex court’s directives and expressed serious concern over the handling of the matter.
A press release signed and released by the group under the Pakistan Bar Council Member letterhead said, “We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the blatant, willful and deliberate violation by the government and authorities of the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 18 August 2026 concerning the shifting, medical examination and treatment of Mr. Imran Khan, former prime inister of Pakistan.”
The press release was signed jointly by PBC members Abid Shahid Zuberi, Muhammad Maqsood Buttar, Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan, Munir Ahmed Kakar, Abdul Sattar Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Salahuddin Ahmed and Qazi Muhammad Arshad.
The statement further highlighted that the apex court’s August 18 order was “clear, unequivocal and binding”, which was flouted by the executive in “direct defiance” of the court’s directions.
The group emphasised that the executive did not have the authority to defy SC’s directions and orders.
Describing the alleged non-compliance as a serious assault on the independence, authority and dignity of the judiciary, it warned that the abeyance undermined the rule of law and “strikes at the very foundation of constitutional governance”.
Detailing its argument, the PBC members said the incident rendered the constitutional separation of powers meaningless.
“Judicial orders are the principal constitutional safeguard against arbitrary state action,” the statement said, adding that failure to comply with SC orders placed the fundamental rights of citizens at risk.
Outlining paragraph 14 of the top court’s order, the lawyers argued that the executive was fully aware of the binding nature of the directions and the consequences of non-compliance.
The group maintained that the filing of a review petition by the government did not suspend the court’s August 18 order and therefore the executive was not authorised to disregard it.
The signatories demanded that those responsible for the alleged violation be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Source: Express Tribune
