ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday witnessed heated exchanges over rising poverty, the health and detention of PTI women leaders and activists, including Noreen Niazi, and an alleged increase in extrajudicial killings reaching Islamabad.

PTI parliamentary leader Senator Ali Zafar cited a World Bank report in the House, saying 48 per cent of people living below the poverty line in the region were in Pakistan.

“According to the poverty index, those earning less than three dollars are below the poverty line,” he said. “This is a failure of our government. Inflation has increased and its impact is reaching the poor.”

He said many areas lacked drinking water, while secondary schools were unavailable in several places. “Instead of focusing on these things, we are imposing governor’s rule and emergency,” he said, referring to the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI senators demand proper treatment, family access for Noreen Niazi

PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz protested over the treatment of Noreen Niazi, a sister of PTI founder Imran Khan. “Why is so much cruelty being done to Noreen Niazi? She is a 70-year-old ailing woman. She should be given treatment and her family should be allowed to meet her,” he said.

The Minister of State for Interior, Tallal Chaudhry, assured the House that there would be no negligence regarding her health.

“She was brought to hospital not on her wish but on doctors’ advice. Treatment is not done on wish, treatment is done on doctors’ advice. Doctors will decide where to take her,” he said.

“As she is a woman, we are more sensitive in this regard. It is the responsibility of the government,” he added.

PTI Senator Azam Swati said he had spoken to Ms Niazi’s husband, who informed him that her treatment was progressing well.

“He thanked the government for allowing her to meet her elder daughter. This is a good step by the government,” Mr Swati said.

The minister’s remarks that treatment would be determined by doctors rather than Ms Niazi’s wishes triggered protests and sloganeering by PTI members.

“Let the House run, it will not work like this,” PPP Senator Shahadat Awan, who was presiding over the session, intervened.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas welcomed the decision to allow Ms Niazi to meet her daughter, but criticised the detention of PTI women leaders and activists.

He referred to Dr Yasmin Rashid and Imran Khan’s sisters, questioning why elderly women were being detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

“Women must be respected, but here they have been put in jails. They can also be kept under house arrest,” he said.

He warned that such treatment would damage the government’s reputation and demanded the release of women detainees.

Mr Abbas also criticised the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, accusing the government of taking control of the province and restricting political activity.

He said economic progress required the rule of law and urged the government to focus on hunger, poverty and public welfare rather than detaining political opponents and their relatives. “Release our sisters and daughters from jails now,” he demanded.

Meanwhile, JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed concern over a rise in extrajudicial killings over the past few days, warning that such incidents had now reached Islamabad.

“Through extrajudicial killings, an example of lawlessness is being set. The series of extrajudicial killings may one day reach political workers,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026