Senate opposition leader seeks joint committee to meet Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas on Monday demanded the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to address the matter of meeting jailed Imran Khan in Adiala jail.

Speaking on the floor of the Upper House, the PTI-backed leader urged the government to improve its relationship with the incarcerated former premier, pledging that the opposition would not seek to topple the government.

He referred to the recent sit-in staged by lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and allied opposition parties at Parliament House and KP House in Islamabad, alleging that the gates were locked and parliamentarians were confined inside. He questioned whether such actions amounted to an insult to parliament and called for allowing what he termed “positive protest”.

The protest was held over concerns regarding Imran Khan’s eye ailment after he claimed to have lost 85% vision in his right eye. While the government constituted a medical board that examined and treated him at Adiala jail, PTI and its allies demanded that he be shifted to a hospital and allowed to meet his family. The protest was later called off, with PTI announcing an “Imran Khan Release Force”.

During his address, Raja Nasir Abbas demanded proper medical treatment for the PTI founder, alleging that false cases had been registered against him and that his sisters were not being permitted to meet him. He reiterated the call for forming a joint parliamentary committee to facilitate a meeting.

Read More: Three FC personnel martyred in Karak ambulance attack

Separately, PTI leaders staged a sit-in outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan, demanding early hearings of cases involving the former premier. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja told media he had sought a meeting with the Supreme Court registrar but was unable to secure one. The protest later concluded, after which the Senate opposition leader returned to Parliament House.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah told the Senate that doctors had deemed Imran Khan’s treatment appropriate following his medical examination. He urged that the matter of the PTI founder’s health not be politicised and reiterated the government’s offer for dialogue, saying democracy progresses through negotiations rather than deadlock.