LAHORE: A commotion erupted in the Punjab Assembly as opposition lawmakers staged a fiery protest against the government for failing to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, alleging blatant non-compliance of Supreme Court orders.

Addressing the House on a point of order during the session, which commenced two hours and five minutes late under the chair of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Leader of the Opposition Moeen Riaz Qureshi launched a verbal attack on the administration.

He stated that Imran Khan had been kept in solitary confinement for the past eight months and argued that violating the apex court’s directives regarding his medical care made a mockery of the judiciary.

Mr Qureshi asserted that it was the judiciary’s duty to ensure implementation of its decisions, adding that if the government continued to bypass court orders to satisfy personal egos, the opposition would be forced to take to the streets and step outside the democratic assembly process.

The session grew tense when the government benches interrupted Qureshi’s speech with constant crosstalk. The opposition formally requested to suspend the day’s agenda to debate Imran Khan’s health. When Speaker Khan denied permission, opposition members broke out into intense chanting of slogans and eventually boycotted the house proceedings.

In response, the speaker assured the opposition that its members would be given the floor to speak right after the Question Hour. He remarked that while the opposition viewed their leader as a champion of democracy, the government regarded him as an accused in the May 9 violence.

Following their walkout, opposition members gathered on the steps of the assembly building to continue their demonstration.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Qureshi condemned the alleged medical negligence, claiming that lights were turned off at PIMS and Imran Khan was examined under cell phone flashlights.

During Question Hour, Parliamentary Secretary for Auqaf and Religious Affairs Malik Waheed informed the House that 20 hydraulic umbrellas costing Rs650m were being installed under the Data Darbar expansion project to facilitate visitors. Immediately following Question Hour, the opposition pointed out the lack of quorum. Upon counting, the quorum was found incomplete, forcing the adjournment of the assembly session until 2pm on Monday.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026