Asif mocks PTI’s jubilation over Imran’s relief

Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over its reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer Imran Khan to a hospital.

In a statement on X, Asif said the PTI’s celebrations reflected its strong desire to secure relief for its founder and have him removed from prison.

He claimed that the party’s efforts to obtain what he described as an “NRO” for Imran Khan had reached a new level. He also said that one of the party’s “many founders” had received what he called extraordinary relief from the judiciary.

According to Asif, PTI’s reaction to the court order showed how strongly the party wanted its leader to be moved out of prison.

The defence minister also criticised what he described as a contradiction in PTI’s political narrative. He said Imran Khan had previously demanded tougher treatment for political opponents held in prison.

Asif said it was ironic that a politician once portrayed by his supporters as an “invincible man of steel” was now at the centre of his party’s efforts to secure a transfer from prison to hospital.

He urged PTI to explain what he called the contradictions in its position before celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision.

The remarks came after the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital until the next hearing.

The court directed authorities to establish a medical board to oversee his treatment. It also ordered that Khan be shifted to the hospital under strict security arrangements.

The court further directed that the security situation outside the hospital must remain under control and that the transfer should not create any law-and-order problems.

The decision has been welcomed by PTI, which has repeatedly raised concerns about Khan’s health and access to medical treatment.

The latest exchange has added another political dimension to the court’s decision. While PTI views the order as an important step toward providing medical care to its founder, the government has questioned the political significance attached to the development.