Opposition Condemns “Suspension,” Government Points to Senate Prerogative
ISLAMABAD: A controversy over parliamentary transparency erupted in the Senate on Monday as the opposition condemned the alleged suspension of the upper house’s live broadcast. Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas demanded an immediate explanation for the move, calling it an affront to a constitutional institution.
Allama Abbas, who was appointed to the post with backing from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated during the session that live streaming was at times “halted during certain speeches without explanation.” He emphasized the need for clarity, asking, “We need clarification on who ordered the suspension of the broadcast.”
Law Minister Clarifies Authority, Cites Constitutional Limits
Reacting swiftly, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the government had no role in the matter. He clarified that broadcast decisions are the sole prerogative of the Senate itself. “Only the Chairman of the Senate can issue such rulings,” Tarar said, adding that the limits of freedom of speech are also defined by the Constitution.
This incident follows a similar disruption last month when the National Assembly’s YouTube channel became temporarily inaccessible. The NA secretariat had attributed that incident to a technical fault, denying any deliberate move to halt coverage.
Imran Khan’s Health and Legal Status Debated
Separately, the session also addressed the health of PTI founder Imran Khan. Opposition Leader Abbas described it as a critical issue and proposed forming a delegation of senators to visit the hospital for a personal assessment. He asserted that the jailed former prime minister “does not want to come out of jail through any deal.”
In response, Law Minister Tarar informed the Senate that Imran Khan was in “satisfactory” health and there was no cause for alarm. He stated that his assessment was issued after consulting the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).
Tarar detailed that Khan was taken to Pims according to schedule and with his consent, where a medical board conducted a thorough examination. Following consultations, the PTI founder received a second dose of prescribed treatment for his eye condition.
Regarding calls for Khan’s release, the minister was unequivocal, stating, “He is a convicted prisoner, and the authority to release him rests solely with the courts.”
The dual debates—on parliamentary transparency and the former premier’s status—highlight ongoing tensions within the country’s legislative body, underscoring deep political divisions.
