For the second consecutive day, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers brought the Senate to a standstill, demanding clarity on former prime minister Imran Khan’s health amid what they described as a “complete information blackout” surrounding his condition in Adiala Jail.
Chanting slogans, thumping desks and refusing to join proceedings, PTI senators insisted that Khan’s family members, doctors and lawyers be granted immediate access. The uproar was triggered by unverified social-media reports claiming the PTI founder’s health had deteriorated.
PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate Syed Ali Zafar warned the government of rising public anxiety.
“The tension level has risen so high that there will be an explosion if this matter is not resolved immediately,” he said, adding that PTI senators would boycott proceedings until a minister responded formally.
The PTI contingent later staged a walkout.
Pak govt claims Imran healthy, accuse Afghan, Indian media of spreading ‘rumour’
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addressed the House, rejecting claims of a health emergency as “baseless”.
Citing information from the superintendent of Adiala Jail, he said Imran Khan was “in good health, facing no threat to his life, and being provided all necessary facilities”.
Chaudhry alleged that Afghan media had first circulated “fake stories”, which were later amplified by Indian outlets.
However, his remarks failed to satisfy opposition members. “We will not let the proceedings continue,” one PTI senator shouted, prompting Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani to intervene: “You cannot threaten like this.”
The session was briefly adjourned after the House fell one member short of quorum. When proceedings resumed, PTI senators continued to chant “Release Imran Khan”.
Despite the uproar, the government laid the Income Tax (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025, before the House, which was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue.
PTI Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, when invited to move his agenda item, instead reiterated that no family or party leader had been allowed to meet Khan, dismissing official claims of ongoing visits.
As the noise intensified, session chairman Shahadat Awan adjourned the House until Monday at 4pm.
Opposition alliance threatens nationwide protests over denied meeting
Outside Parliament House, leaders of the opposition alliance issued a stark warning: allow Imran Khan to meet his sisters and senior PTI members, or face countrywide demonstrations.
PkMAP President Mehmood Achakzai accused the government of turning parliament into a “rubber stamp”, alleging that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was “taking dictation from elsewhere”.
He said widespread unrest was being prevented only because opposition parties had so far restrained supporters in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
“We are stopping the public from coming out; otherwise they will create problems for the rulers,” Achakzai said.
He questioned why Khan remained barred from meeting his sisters and party leadership. “The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is sitting outside Adiala Jail, yet no one listens to him,” he added.
PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser claimed democracy had been “buried” in recent by-elections.
He alleged that results in Haripur — where the wife of former opposition leader Omar Ayub contested — were altered, saying the figures on the official Form-47 differed from those produced through “computer manipulation”.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the opposition wanted to remain part of the parliamentary system but claimed “massive rigging” had made this increasingly untenable.
“As far as I know Imran Khan, he will not allow us to be part of parliament anymore,” he said.
Source: Dawn