Shafi Jan accuses Centre of defying courts

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan on Friday accused the federal government of openly violating court orders concerning the medical treatment and transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, saying the move amounted to contempt of court and undermined the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. In a statement, Shafi Jan said the decision to transfer Imran Khan to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital reflected what he described as the government's "cowardice, stubbornness and fear" of the PTI founder. He said the Supreme Court had issued clear directions regarding Imran Khan's stay in hospital and provision of necessary medical facilities. However, he added, the federal government instead shifted him back to Adiala Jail, thereby openly defying judicial orders. The provincial minister said an application would be filed seeking contempt of court proceedings against the federal government for what he termed its illegal and authoritarian conduct. He said the government would have to answer before the court for violating its directives. Shafi Jan alleged that the federal government was playing with Imran Khan's health, calling the alleged conduct a serious matter rather than mere negligence. He accused the government of crossing all limits through what he described as authoritarian actions and said continued violations of the Constitution had become intolerable. He maintained that the country could not make progress without constitutional supremacy and the rule of law, warning that those in power who disregarded the Constitution and law would eventually be held accountable. The minister also accused Federal Minister Atta Tarar of misleading the public by allegedly staging a fabricated drama regarding the presence of PTI workers outside the hospital. He claimed that Tarar and other government ministers had been misleading the nation about Imran Khan's health since the beginning.