ISLAMABAD:
Former first lady Bushra Bibi’s health took center stage again in the Senate on Friday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) renewed protests over her reported health condition, demanding access, disclosure of medical records and an independent parliamentary visit.
The opposition party’s protest in the Senate came a day after it raised alarm and expressed outrage over reports that Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi was “abruptly and quietly” shifted to a hospital in the middle of the night before being sent back to jail.
The reaction followed media reports on Wednesday evening claiming that Bushra Bibi, currently incarcerated at Adiala Prison, had been taken to a high-security hospital for a follow-up eye exam.
The Senate session on Friday, chaired by Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, saw PTI senator Mishal Yousafzai raise the issue, alleging lack of transparency over Bushra Bibi’s treatment.
She told the House that the former first lady was taken to hospital “in the dark of night”, while neither meetings with her were allowed nor her medical reports shared with the party.
Yousafzai reiterated his proposal that a Senate committee composed of members of the Upper House would be allowed to meet with Bushra Bibi and independently assess his condition.
Responding to criticism from the opposition, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected the allegations and said the prisoners were being treated in strict accordance with established prison rules.
The minister said all detainees were provided with healthcare, food and other essential facilities according to standard operating procedures, without any compromise on their legal rights. He said medical emergencies were dealt with immediately, regardless of the hour.
“If a prisoner requires urgent medical attention, prison authorities are required to respond without delay,” he said, adding that urgent cases could not be delayed until the morning.
Dismissing suggestions regarding the timing or intent of prisoner transfers or treatment decisions, Dr Tariq Fazal said all such actions were carried out strictly within legal procedures, with prison authorities maintaining comprehensive records of medical treatment and facilities, all subject to official review.
He added that if Bushra Bibi sought facilities beyond those permitted by the prison manual, legal recourse through the courts remained available.
The minister also warned against any politicization of issues related to judicial detention, stressing that the prison system operated within established legal and administrative rules.
Meanwhile, JUI-F Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, referring to the recent killing of religious scholar Maulana Muhammad Idrees.
He said the cleric was targeted in a carefully executed attack in broad daylight, adding that when his party sought to protest, the administration asked them to postpone the demonstrations. “I said you kill us and then do not even allow us to mourn,” he remarked.
He questioned the state’s ability to protect citizens, criticized the federal and provincial governments, and said the JUI-F no longer felt safe in the province.
