• Party barred from moving resolution on alleged violation of SC order on Imran’s treatment
• Number of private members’ bills, including one seeking blue passports for ex-lawmakers’ children, left in limbo after quorum shortfall

ISLAMABAD: A number of private members’ bills were deferred on Monday as opposition lawmakers belonging to the PTI disrupted Senate proceedings, after the chair barred them from moving a resolution against the alleged violation of a Supreme Court order concerning the treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The controversy erupted during private members’ day, when PTI Senator Syed Ali Zafar sought permission to move a resolution regarding the alleged failure to shift the incarcerated PTI founder to a private hospital for medical treatment, as directed by the court.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar opposed the move, arguing that the matter was sub judice as the PTI had already approached the SC through a contempt petition.

“The Supreme Court order has been implemented,” the minister said, adding that the issue was currently before the SC and therefore could not be debated in the House.

Senate Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar subsequently disallo­wed Mr Zafar from moving the resolution. He said the Senate secretariat had not been informed in adva­nce about the proposed resolution.

The decision triggered a protest by PTI lawmakers. The opposition members rose from their seats and chanted slogans after the chair also refused to allow Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas to speak on the issue.

“The matter that is before the court cannot be discussed in the House,” the deputy chairman remarked. However, the PTI lawmakers continued their protest before staging a walkout from the chamber.

Shortfall of quorum

With the opposition benches largely empty, PTI Senator Mashal Yousafzai then pointed out the lack of quorum.

A headcount subsequently found the House short of the required number of members, prompting the chair to adjourn the sitting.

The episode brought the Senate’s private members’ day business to a halt, with the opposition accusing the government of preventing it from raising an issue concerning Imran’s treatment, while the treasury benches maintained that parliamentary debate could not proceed on a matter pending before the SC.

The bills left in limbo now include one seeking the issuance of blue passports to dependent children of former parliamentarians.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026