Scheduled business agenda suspended: Senate holds debate on former PM’s health condition

ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a highly unusual development, the Upper House of the Parliament suspended its scheduled business agenda on Monday, and held a debate on the health condition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, on a point of order raised by the Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

The House met almost two months after its last meeting on 18 June.

On the maiden day of the 363rd Senate session, presided over by Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, the opposition leader demanded that the House hold a debate on Khan’s health.

Conspicuously, the treasury benches did not oppose the opposition leader’s point of order, and agreed to hold the debate on ex-premier’s health, which the chairman Senate allowed.

Speaking on his point of order, Abbas demanded that Khan be immediately shifted to hospital due to his “alarming” health condition, asking the treasury side to play its role in this regard.

The opposition leader said Khan is subjected to “mental torture” in the jail.

He urged the treasury benches to join hands with the opposition in ensuring the provision of adequate medical treatment to the former PM.

“We should visit him in the jail together,” Abbas said.

Addressing Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Abbas said, “You know it very well that politicians did not frame you in the drugs case in the past.”

The adviser responded, “Allama sahib, you tell us who was behind this case.”

In his speech, Abbas said that a report submitted in the Supreme Court revealed that Khan was suffering from high blood pressure.

Sanaullah responded that the issue involving the incarcerated ex-PM fell under the purview of the superior judiciary.

“Under the law, the court is responsible for everything concerning a person who is in judicial custody,” he said, adding that Khan’s cases were pending with the superior courts.

“If there has been any lapse related to his (Khan’s) medical treatment, then it is the court’s responsibility- or the responsibility of the ones whose custody he is in,” the PM’s aide said.

The political adviser denied that Khan was facing high blood pressure.

Law Minister Azam Tarar referred to the report submitted by Barrister Salman Safdar in the SC, which, he said, noted that Khan was not provided the physicians of his choice.

“All prisoners are equal, the law equally applies to everyone—whether it’s former PM or anyone else,” the minister said.

During the session, the senators from both sides of the aisle continued exchanging harsh words.

The session was adjourned till today (Tuesday).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026