**ISLAMABAD:** The government has decided to approach the Supreme Court with a review petition against its order concerning the medical treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan, instead of implementing the ruling immediately.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said in a statement that the Supreme Court’s order regarding the PTI founder’s treatment had been reviewed, following which the government decided to seek a review of the decision from the apex court.

According to the law minister, the government’s legal team believes that the Supreme Court’s decision goes beyond the applicable legal limits and raises several important questions.

One of the key questions, he said, was whether the court’s order would apply to all prisoners. There are many inmates in prisons who suffer from various health problems, while convicted prisoners are provided medical treatment at government hospitals under the law.

Tarar questioned whether implementation of the Supreme Court’s order would mean that all prisoners could seek treatment at private hospitals.

The law minister explained that a private hospital may be approached when treatment for a particular disease or medical condition is not available at a government hospital.

The government’s latest decision comes after Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhary had initially announced, following the Supreme Court ruling, that the government would implement the court’s decision in letter and spirit.

The review petition is now expected to place the government’s legal concerns before the Supreme Court for reconsideration.