ISLAMABAD: The government, Tuesday, announced in the Upper House of the Parliament to implement in “letter and spirit” the Supreme Court’s order to shift former prime minister Imran Khan to hospital for medical treatment.
“The prime minister has no powers of his own to get any prisoner out of jail—this power rests with the court—the government would implement the Supreme Court’s decision in letter and spirit,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhary informed the Senate.
Addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, the minister said, “If court gives a decision in your favour, then it’s okay, and if it doesn’t, then you resort to criticism.”
He said the SC decided in favour of Khan, which, he said, has been appreciated by the PTI senators. “That’s what we were saying; it’s the courts that had to decide about the cases related to Imran Khan—courts are the real path—the people of PTI should go to courts,” he said.
The minister criticised the PTI for the planned 27 September protest. “The matters would not be resolved on the roads,” Chaudhary said.
Apart from that, the minister said India is funding terrorism in Balochistan using the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He invited the senators from all political parties to present their viewpoint to deal with the situation in Balochistan.
PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi extended his gratitude to the apex court for ordering the shifting of Khan, the incarcerated PTI founder, to the hospital. “A new political journey is starting today,” he said.
Buppi said Khan has been kept in solitary confinement for the last nine months.
He invited Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah to “let’s go together” and meet Khan.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal’s (JUI-F’s) Parliamentary Leader in Senate Atta-ur-Rehman moved a calling attention notice against withdrawal of tax exemption in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) by the government.
Responding to the calling attention notice, Finance State Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani told the Senate that certain elements misused the tax exemption for ex-FATA and ex-PATA. He said the sales tax was imposed in ex-FATA and ex-PATA after thorough consideration by the government last year.
Kayani said the government is focussing on resolving the issues concerning the tribal region on priority.
Apart from that, Kayani laid before the Senate the 1st Biannual Report on Monitoring of the Implementation of 7th National Finance Commission Award for the period from July to December, 2024, as required under the relevant law.
In the absence of Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani and Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan, Presiding Officer Manzoor Ahmed Kakar chaired the Senate session that was adjourned till Thursday.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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