Senate descends into chaos over PTI senator's arrest

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ISLAMABAD:

The arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Aun Abbas Buppi in a case registered against him by the Punjab Wildlife Department led to furore in the Senate session on Thursday, with a heated exchange between the chair and Senator Manzoor Kakar.

The house met here with Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar in the chair. At the outset, Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz informed the house about the arrest of Buppi at 8:30am. He claimed that Buppi's house had been vandalised and asked whether the Senate chairman was informed before the arrest.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed the arrest of Buppi, while replying to Faraz, but said that it was news to him too. "The Punjab Wildlife Department has registered a case against Aun Abbas Buppi, for hunting chinkara deer," the minister told the house.

However, opposition's nonstop pandemonium and noisy protest continued. The opposition members raised slogans and thumped desks as mark of protest against Buppi's arrest and the suspension of three PTI senators – Buppi, Humayun Mohmand and Falak Naz – during an earlier session.

Then there were heated exchanges between Nasar and Kakar. The opposition senator criticised the chair's conduct, asserting that senators were not subordinates. In response, the deputy chairman emphasised his commitment to running the house according to the rules.

Nasar told the lawmaker that he would not come under anyone's pressure, while conducting the proceedings. Amidst uproar, opposition members staged walkout to press for their demand and the perceived undermining of the Senate's authority.

The chair asked the treasury benches to convince the opposition to return to the house and join the proceedings. He also asked the law minister to submit a detailed report about the arrest of Buppi. Tarar assured the Senate that he would ensure that all legal assistance was provided to the detained senator.

He said that further verification was under way to determine whether the arrest was legally justified. "If the arrest was conducted as per legal procedures, the individual should be presented before a magistrate, and the bail process should proceed accordingly," he said.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Sherry Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) called for a detailed briefing by relevant officials and the allocation of specific days for a comprehensive debate on terrorism. She said that terrorism was a collective concern and responsibility.

"We are lawmakers, and we must deliberate on this pressing issue. If necessary, an in-camera briefing can be arranged, but we must not remain mere spectators. People should not question whether we are only here to discuss our privileges and vote on benefits—we must take decisive action," she said.

Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Bannu, she said, "Today, we have prayed for the martyrs, but we must go beyond prayers. We need a briefing, a debate, and a resolution—these three steps are essential." She also urged the house to ensure full attendance during the discussions on terrorism.