• Opposition proposes independent upper house panel to visit jail and meet PTI founder
• Rana Sanaullah claims ex-PM and Bushra Bibi receiving ‘best medical treatment’
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday witnessed a war of words over the health and treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan and the conditions of political prisoners, with opposition members demanding an independent committee to visit jails and the government advising legal recourse for any relief.
PTI Senator Azam Swati claimed that Mr Khan had “lost sight in one eye” and called on the state to grant him and his wife their basic human rights as Pakistani citizens.
“We need to unite at this time. Inhumane treatment is never justified,” Mr Swati said, urging the government to “change its decisions and try to improve the situation”.
The opposition leader in the Senate, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, said denial of rights was oppression, and “one who is satisfied with the oppressor’s cruelty is also an oppressor”.
“By jailing political workers, we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” he added.
Mr Abbas proposed a committee of two to three senators, including government and opposition members, to meet the PTI founder as well as other political prisoners and submit a report to the House.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed said the party had no access to Adiala jail and questioned why treatment could be arranged, and even overseas medical care allowed, for PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif but not for the PTI founder.
He called for granting PTI leaders and family members access to Adiala jail, where the PTI founder was imprisoned.
‘Best medical treatment’
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah claimed both Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, were being provided the best medical treatment available in the country.
He added that jail meetings were being regulated under court-approved procedures. A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court had devised a mechanism allowing meetings twice a week, with separate days for lawyers and family members, he said.
The premier’s aide said PTI leaders, including party general secretary Salman Akram Raja, had assured the court that meetings would not be used for political messaging or media campaigns. However, he maintained that the understanding was repeatedly violated through press conferences and international media campaigns.
“Campaigns targeting state institutions and their heads were carried out abroad. Evidence regarding such activities can be presented whenever required,” he said. He added that a five-member medical board, formed on the recommendation of PTI’s own doctors, had endorsed the treatment being provided to Mr Khan.
Mr Sanaullah also said the parliamentary rules of business did not provide room for a committee to interfere in executive matters related to prison administration.
He noted that an “action” which succeeded was called a revolution. However, he added that a failed attempt to bring about a revolution was “treachery” entailing consequences, adding that the violent protests of May 9, 2023 were an example of that.
He said the events of May 9 were attacks on national institutions and those responsible would have to face the music.
He added that repeated attempts to march on the capital and confront the state had further complicated the political environment.
Lockdown holidays mocked
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza mocked the three-day holiday during the recent lockdown, saying such extended breaks only occurred in Pakistan.
“Three days off during a lockdown happens only in Pakistan. In no other country do you get holidays like this,” he said. He sarcastically proposed extending the break to the remaining four days of the week.
“My suggestion is to declare the other four days as holidays too. Anyway, we aren’t doing any work,” he added.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026
