Pakistani leadership arrives in Jeddah

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has defended the government’s position on meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in prison. He said matters that are pending before the courts should generally not be debated in parliament. However, he noted that the Senate was discussing such issues. Tarar made the remarks during a Senate session. Lawmakers were debating Imran Khan’s health and concerns over restrictions on meetings with him. The minister said cases related to the May 9 incidents and other cases involving Imran Khan were before the courts. He said the PTI founder and other individuals had filed appeals against decisions in their cases. According to Tarar, several legal matters remain pending before different judicial forums. He said the delay in deciding appeals and cases was a broader problem within the judicial system. The law minister pointed to delays in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. He said some NAB appeals had remained undecided for as long as six years. He said Imran Khan’s petitions and applications were also pending before the relevant courts. Therefore, he argued, those matters should be addressed through the judicial process. Tarar also referred to the cases involving former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He said Sharif had been convicted by the courts and later challenged the decisions through appeals. He added that relief was subsequently granted to Sharif by the judiciary itself. The minister said this showed that legal disputes should be settled through the courts. The Senate debate also focused on Imran Khan’s access to visitors in prison. Tarar said prison authorities had to follow the jail manual. He said the rules applied to all prisoners and could not be changed for one individual. He argued that if special permission was given to one prisoner, similar requests from other prisoners would also have to be considered. The minister said the government wanted a system in which everyone was treated equally before the law. He referred to the principle that the powerful and ordinary citizens should stand on the same footing. His remarks came after opposition lawmakers demanded that the Senate discuss Imran Khan’s health and the restrictions on meetings with him. Senator Raja Nasir Abbas had specifically called for a discussion on the PTI founder’s health. The issue has remained a major point of political disagreement between the government and PTI. The opposition has repeatedly raised concerns about Imran Khan’s health and access to family members, lawyers and political leaders. Tarar maintained that the government’s position was based on existing legal and prison procedures. He said pending court cases should not be settled through political debate.

Security sources said that armed members of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) abducted a courier company’s mini-truck along with two people from the Khad Koocha area on July 24. According to the sources, the kidnappers demanded Rs25 million in ransom from the courier company on July 26 and threatened to kill the hostages if the money was not paid. Security sources said the proscribed BLA is involved not only in terrorism but also in criminal activities, including bank robberies, vehicle theft, extortion and kidnapping for ransom. They said such incidents indicate the involvement of criminal networks in activities that can also serve as a source of financing for terrorism. The sources said ordinary Baloch citizens, local traders and peace in Balochistan suffer the most from such activities. They added that such actions are also aimed at creating fear and insecurity among residents and disrupting the peaceful environment in the region.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate witnessed a heated exchange between the opposition and government benches on Tuesday over the medical treatment of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The dispute centred on the implementation of an August 18 Supreme Court order concerning Imran Khan’s treatment. The court had directed authorities to shift him to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and form a medical board that would include his sister and personal physician. The government, however, took Imran Khan to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), citing security concerns. He was later returned to Adiala Jail after doctors declared him medically fit. The opposition accused the government of failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions. The government rejected the allegation and maintained that the authorities had acted within the framework of the court order. The issue came up after PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar sought permission to move a resolution regarding the Supreme Court’s directions. Presiding Officer Shahadat Awan did not allow the resolution, ruling that the matter was sub judice. Opposition senators were instead allowed to raise the issue through points of order. Zafar argued that Parliament must uphold the Constitution and ensure compliance with decisions of the Supreme Court. He claimed that Imran Khan had neither been shifted to Shifa International Hospital nor examined by the medical board mentioned in the court’s order. He also alleged that the required facilities for examining the PTI founder were not available at PIMS. Zafar said political differences should not affect a person’s access to medical care. He urged the government to separate Imran Khan’s political status from his health and medical needs. PTI Senator Azam Swati also criticised the government, accusing it of adopting different standards in dealing with political figures. He cited previous instances in which government institutions had facilitated political leaders. The government defended its position through Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah. He said the state had complied with the Supreme Court’s directions while taking security considerations into account. Sanaullah said the court had also allowed the administration to assess security arrangements. He maintained that Imran Khan was therefore taken to a government hospital where qualified doctors were available. According to Sanaullah, a panel of doctors examined Imran Khan and found his condition satisfactory. He said the PTI founder was subsequently returned to jail. The adviser said the matter was already before the Supreme Court and a report would be submitted on September 16. He argued that the court itself should determine whether its order had been properly implemented. Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas urged the government to demonstrate political maturity and implement the Supreme Court’s order in letter and spirit. He also proposed forming a Senate committee to visit Imran Khan in jail and assess the situation.