Bushra health row resurfaces in Senate
The health of former first lady Bushra Bibi once again took centre stage in the Senate on Friday as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) renewed its protest over her reported medical condition, demanded access, disclosure of medical records and an independent parliamentary visit.
However, the government rejected allegations of secrecy and insisted she was being treated strictly in accordance with prison laws.
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, had been "abruptly and discreetly" shifted to a hospital in the dead of night before being returned to prison.
The reaction followed media reports on Wednesday night claiming that Bushra Bibi, currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail, was taken to a hospital under tight security for a follow-up eye examination.
On Friday, the Senate session, chaired by Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, saw PTI Senator Mishal Yousafzai raise the issue, alleging a lack of transparency over Bushra Bibi's treatment.
She told the House that the former first lady had been taken to the hospital "in the darkness of night", while neither meetings with her were being allowed nor her medical reports being shared with the party.
Yousafzai repeated her proposal that a Senate committee comprising members of the Upper House be allowed to meet Bushra Bibi and independently assess her condition.
Responding to the opposition's criticism, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected the allegations and said prisoners were treated strictly in accordance with established prison rules.
He told the Senate that judicial custody operated under a separate legal framework and was not subject to external influence.
The minister said all inmates were provided healthcare, food and other essential facilities under standard operating procedures, with no compromise on their legal rights. He said medical emergencies were dealt with immediately, regardless of the hour.
"If any prisoner requires urgent medical care, jail authorities are obligated to respond without delay," he said, adding that urgent cases could not be held back until morning.
Rejecting suggestions regarding the timing or intent behind prisoner transfers or treatment decisions, Dr Tariq Fazal said all such actions were carried out strictly under legal procedures, with jail authorities maintaining complete records of medical treatment and facilities, all subject to official scrutiny.
He further said that if Bushra Bibi sought any facilities beyond those allowed under the jail manual, legal recourse through the courts remained available.
The minister also cautioned against politicising matters relating to judicial custody, stressing that the prison system was functioning within established legal and administrative rules.
Meanwhile, JUI-F Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman expressed serious concern over deteriorating law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, referring to the recent killing of religious scholar Maulana Muhammad Idrees.
He said the cleric had been targeted in a carefully executed daylight attack, adding that when his party sought to protest, the administration asked them to postpone 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, criticised both the federal and provincial governments, and said the JUI-F no longer felt secure in the province.