Senate session adjourned amidst heated arguments: Opposition leader denied permission to speak on IK’s health

The Upper House of Pakistan's Parliament adjourned in turmoil on Monday, after a PTI senator highlighted the insufficient quorum, triggering heated debates between the Treasury and Opposition lawmakers over the health condition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the Senate proceedings, Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas requested the Chair's permission to speak on the matter concerning Khan's health.

However, Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan, presiding over the session, refused Abbas the privilege, stating that the issue involving Khan's health was "sub judice." This decision infuriated the Opposition senators who argued that lawmakers were legally entitled to debate any matter on the floor of the House. PTI's Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Ali Zafar, then made a motion seeking the Chair's permission to present a resolution requesting Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, the deputy chairman deemed that the Senate Secretariat had not been notified of the resolution beforehand, denying Zafar the permission to present it. Law Minister Azam Tarar also opposed the resolution, citing that Khan's health case was still pending in the Supreme Court. The Opposition lawmakers walked out in protest, labeling the deputy chairman's actions as "hostile" and "unfair."

In a similar incident to the previous session, PTI's Mashal Yousafzai pointed out the missing quorum, prompting the deputy chairman to adjourn the Senate session till Tuesday. A brief Senate meeting took place on Friday, following Yousafzai's earlier observation of the lack of quorum, which led to the abrupt conclusion of that session as well.