Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday that no rigid deadline exists for shifting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital, as the government awaits a definitive ruling on its review petition.

Speaking to journalists at Parliament House, Senator Sanaullah maintained that the legal review filed by the executive must be addressed before any transfer takes place. "There is no deadline for transferring the PTI founder to a hospital. We have filed a review petition and expect a decision 'today or tomorrow'," he stated, adding that the verdict would clear the air on the matter.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered Imran to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours - a deadline set to expire imminently. However, the government challenged the directive through a review plea, arguing that certain statutory provisions warranted a different approach. Emphasizing adherence to the Constitution and law, Sanaullah acknowledged that apex court rulings are binding on subordinate forums.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart expressed concern that the ruling could set a precedent affecting the broader criminal justice framework. "Will every prisoner now be transferred to a private hospital?" he asked, warning that lower courts would otherwise struggle to justify denying similar requests.

Drawing parallels with past high-profile incarcerations, Sanaullah recalled that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was initially moved from prison to a state-run services hospital before a medical board recommended overseas treatment, which was subsequently approved by the cabinet.

Imran, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following convictions that he and his party denounce as politically motivated. He has faced a battery of legal challenges since his ouster via a no-confidence vote in April 2022.