Key points:

  • A contempt petition related to Imran Khan’s transfer to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has been formally docketed.
  • PTI senator Gohar Mian requested an accelerated hearing and denied the authenticity of a video showing him meeting the former prime minister.
  • Government spokesperson Abdul Sanaullah argued that any question of compliance with the court’s directive must be settled by the judiciary, not the Senate.
  • The dispute remains sub judice, with both sides urging the courts to resolve the matter promptly.

The Senate chamber in Islamabad turned into a battleground on Thursday as ministers and PTI lawmakers sparred over the legality of former prime minister Imran Khan’s relocation to PIMS. PTI senator Gohar Mian, who filed a contempt petition after the court ordered Khan’s transfer, asked the Senate’s legal committee to fast‑track the hearing, insisting that the video circulating on social media showing his alleged meeting with Khan was fabricated.

In response, Federal Minister Abdul Sanaullah warned that the Senate should not pre‑empt the judiciary’s role. He stressed that the only authority to determine whether the court’s order had been properly executed was the court itself, and called for the matter to be left to the legal process rather than political theatrics.

The controversy stems from a high‑court order issued last month compelling the government to move Khan, who is currently facing multiple corruption cases, to PIMS for medical treatment. The government’s handling of the transfer has been criticized by PTI as a breach of the court’s mandate, while the ruling coalition maintains that all procedural requirements were met.

With the contempt plea now assigned a case number, the legal showdown is set to move beyond parliamentary debate. Observers note that the outcome could have broader ramifications for the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive, as well as for the political fortunes of PTI ahead of upcoming provincial elections. All parties have signaled they will await the court’s verdict before taking further action.