Imran Khan's party seeks contempt action over jailed leader's hospital move

Khan, who remains highly popular in Pakistan, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges he calls politically motivated.

The party of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan filed a contempt petition against the government on Saturday after authorities took the cricketer-turned-politician to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility ordered by the top court, party officials said.

Khan, who remains highly popular in Pakistan, has been imprisoned since August 2023. (REUTERS)

"The petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister" and other government officials, said Naeem Panjutha, a legal advisor for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, adding it also calls for Khan's treatment at the private hospital ordered by the court.

Khan, who remains highly popular in Pakistan, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges he calls politically motivated after a fallout with the country's powerful military led to his removal from office. His arrest sparked massive nationwide protests, including the storming of military installations, and public perception that he was moved back to jail forcefully has the potential to rekindle such demonstrations.

A three-judge bench on Tuesday directed the government to transfer Khan from Adiala Jail to the private Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within two days for medical examination.