Improve ties with Imran, I promise we won't let govt be toppled: Allama Raja Abbas

Demands formation of joint parliamentary committee to address issues related to meeting jailed PTI founder

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Monday demanded the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to address issues related to meeting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, vowing that the government would not be toppled if it improved relations with the ex-premier.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act for the May 9, 2023, protests. His party has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to court said his right-eye vision had dropped to 15%, while the government maintains he is receiving the best care.

Speaking during today's Senate session, Abbas said: "You fix things with the PTI founder. I promise I will not let your government fall."

He said the holy month of Ramazan was a time for repentance and reconciliation. He expressed concern over reports regarding Imran's eye condition, saying the matter had been under discussion and had caused unease among lawmakers.

“We staged a protest sit-in at Parliament House,” Abbas said, adding that the doors of Parliament had been locked. “Let us set a tradition of peaceful protest. Locking Parliament and confining parliamentarians — is this not an insult to Parliament?” he asked.

Read More: Medical board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition

Abbas reiterated the demand for proper medical treatment for the PTI founder. He said Imran had spent his time in prison reading the translation and exegesis of the Holy Quran. He also alleged that cases against Imran were fabricated and claimed that his sisters were not being allowed to meet him.

He further said Imran was due to receive another injection as part of his medical treatment and called for the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to facilitate meetings with him.

Responding to points raised by Abbas, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said democracy was strengthened through dialogue rather than confrontation, urging the opposition to engage constructively in the political process.

Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sana Ullah Khan has urged opposition to be part of political process to sort out issues and strengthen democracy in the country@SenatePakistan #News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/FhOehAjuRI pic.twitter.com/RlxYInCF6u

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 23, 2026

He added that the government wanted the opposition to play an effective role in the democratic process to help address national issues and reinforce institutions.

However, Sanaullah expressed regret that the opposition was not willing to become part of the political process, which he said had led to repeated political deadlocks.

Addressing concerns over medical facilities for the jailed PTI founder, he said all entitled facilities were being provided in accordance with the law.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented the government’s official position on recent military action inside Afghanistan.

“Pakistan targeted multiple locations in three Afghan provinces in recent intelligence-based operations after repeated warnings to Kabul over cross-border terrorism,” he said.

Chaudhry said there was a clear background to the strikes.

Also Read: Pakistan launches cross-border strikes on seven terrorist camps after bombings

He alleged that during negotiations, the Afghan Taliban government had demanded Rs10 billion, saying that if the amount was paid, they would shift the camps of terrorists to the other side of the border.

According to the minister, Pakistan had asked what guarantee Kabul would provide that terrorism inside Pakistan would end after receiving the money. He said the Taliban had failed to offer any such assurance.

“Our defence has been secured by the blood of civilians and soldiers,” he said, adding that Pakistan would not remain passive in the face of attacks.

Chaudhry said recent operations in Afghanistan were intelligence-based and targeted terrorists camps. He said attacks in Tirah, Bannu and Bajaur had links tracing back to Afghanistan.

“With due respect, we are not here to simply lift bodies. We know how to respond,” he said.

اب ہم صرف جنازے نہیں اٹھائیں گے بلکہ بھرپور جواب بھی دیں گے، طارق فضل چوہدری#TariqFazalChaudhry #PakistanSecurity #NationalStatement #PoliticalNews #PakistanStrong #ResponseNotJustMourning #PakistanDefense pic.twitter.com/8ZYWxcDapz

— APP (@appcsocialmedia) February 23, 2026

The minister told senators that Pakistan had repeatedly informed Afghanistan about cross-border infiltration and had presented “strong and verified evidence” of terrorists’ activity. He said these proofs had also been shared with the Afghan authorities.

He alleged that terrorism crossed into Pakistan from across the border and maintained safe havens and training camps inside Afghanistan. He added that the Afghan regime had been requested several times to curb infiltration but had shown no positive response.

Chaudhry also accused the Afghan Taliban regime of failing to act against what he described as “TTP and fitna al-khawarij” terrorists operating from Afghan soil.

PPP to stand like glass-coated wall if anyone talks of Sindh’s division: Sherry Rehman

Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman said any attempt to divide Sindh would be against the Constitution and democracy, warning that such moves would be strongly resisted by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Shery referred to a resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly on February 21, describing it as significant and reflective of the province’s unity. She said the PPP stood as a symbol of unity among all federating units.

“There has been talk about Sindh’s unity and its historic status,” she said, adding that suggestions to separate a port city from Sindh had echoed for centuries.

“Sindh has an inseparable status for us. Whoever talks about breaking it is an enemy of democracy,” Sherry told the House.

Read This: Sindh Assembly passes resolution

She warned that rendering Sindh controversial would go against both the Constitution and democratic principles. “You cannot do all this through backdoor politics,” she said.

Sherry stressed that any such move would require a two-thirds majority in the provincial assembly. “Once you start talking about dividing Sindh, it leads to talk of dividing Pakistan,” she added.

She said people from diverse backgrounds had lived together in Sindh for centuries, and the PPP did not engage in politics based on ethnicity.

“If anyone talks about division, we will stand like a glass-coated wall,” she said, pledging firm resistance. She also accused certain quarters of pursuing “backdoor politics” regarding Sindh and said her party was capable of both resistance and protest politics.

سپریم کورٹ کے باہر پاکستان تحریک انصاف کی جانب سے احتجاجی دھرنا جاری رہا، جس میں مظاہرین نے زور دے کر مطالبہ کیا کہ عمران خان کے تمام مقدمات فوری طور پر سماعت کے لیے مقرر کیے جائیں، اہلِ خانہ سے ملاقات کی اجازت دی جائے، اور ان کے ذاتی ڈاکٹروں کے ذریعے مکمل طبی معائنہ کرایا جائے۔… pic.twitter.com/XDXF59Xir0

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) February 23, 2026

Earlier in the day, PTI staged a protest outside the Supreme Court, demanding that all cases against Imran be fixed for immediate hearings.

Protesters urged the authorities to allow Imran's family members to meet him and called for a comprehensive medical examination to be conducted by his personal doctors.

PTI stressed that the former prime minister’s legal matters should be heard without further delay and that his medical concerns must be addressed transparently.

The protest was attended by several senior party leaders and elected representatives, including Salman Akram Raja and Aamir Dogar.

عمران خان کی صحت کا مسئلہ بحران بن جائے اس سے پہلے اس مسئلہ کو حل کر لیا جائے Confidence building کے اقدامات کیے جائیں فیملی کو ذاتی معالجین کو ملنے کی اجازت دی جائے ۔
قائد حزب اختلاف سینٹ علامہ راجہ ناصر عباس pic.twitter.com/LvjGBynuOO

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) February 23, 2026

Abbas said Imran’s health was a humanitarian matter that should be addressed on urgent and compassionate grounds, adding that the greatest concerns regarding Imran’s eye condition were shared by his family, personal physicians, the party and its supporters.

Referring to a previous medical episode, Abbas claimed that when Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), government ministers initially denied it before later acknowledging the move. “By that time, his eyesight had suffered deadly effects,” he alleged.

He urged the government to resolve the matter before it escalated into a crisis. “Confidence-building measures should be taken and the family and personal doctors should be allowed to meet him,” Abbas said.