ISLAMABAD: The Senate witnessed a heated debate over the health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, with the opposition terming his reported medical condition alarming and demanding that he be provided immediate medical facilities and shifted to a hospital.

The government rejected the opposition’s concerns, maintaining that Imran Khan himself had expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided to him.

Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over the session. On PTI’s demand, the routine proceedings were suspended to take up a discussion on Imran Khan’s health, bringing government and opposition lawmakers face to face.

Leader of the Opposition Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the report regarding Imran Khan’s health was concerning and called for his immediate transfer to a hospital. He also proposed that lawmakers should jointly visit the jail to assess Imran Khan’s health.

PTI Senator Azam Swati urged the government to open the door for negotiations, saying Imran Khan was ready for dialogue and that no negligence in his medical treatment would be tolerated.

Responding to the opposition, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said all cases against Imran Khan were pending before the courts, while acknowledging that delays in hearing appeals remained an issue. He said jail visits were governed by the jail manual and noted that the matter of Imran Khan’s treatment had also been raised before the Supreme Court.

“Whatever law applies to me applies to everyone,” the law minister said.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said all issues could be resolved through dialogue and political consensus, adding that the prime minister’s offer for negotiations was still on the table.

Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah rejected the opposition’s concerns about Imran Khan’s health, saying that a report submitted to the Supreme Court stated that Imran Khan himself had expressed satisfaction with his treatment.

Meanwhile, Senator Talal Chaudhry claimed that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had held 84 meetings, saying they had not even met that many times at home. He alleged that after previous claims failed to produce results, a “sympathy card” was now being played. He also claimed that Imran Khan’s two children had valid NICOP cards but travelled to the United States instead of coming to Pakistan to meet their father.

The opposition, led by Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI lawmakers, continued to call for negotiations and meaningful political dialogue. The government also reiterated its willingness to keep the channel of negotiations open.

The proceedings, however, turned disorderly when government lawmaker Anoushay Rehman interrupted PTI lawmaker Mashal Yousafzai during her speech on Imran Khan’s health. The intervention triggered uproar and shouting in the House, prompting the deputy chairman to switch off Mashal Yousafzai’s microphone.

Senator Abdul Qadir urged both the government and opposition to establish terms of reference and standard operating procedures for meaningful negotiations and to give serious political dialogue priority in resolving political issues. PTI lawmakers also protested and created a commotion during his speech.

The Senate session was eventually adjourned until 11:30am on Tuesday due to a lack of quorum.