Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Photo: Reuters/file
ISLAMABAD:
On Friday, the PTI urged the federal government to facilitate a meeting with the party’s founder, sparking a debate and protest by opposition lawmakers in the Senate over the issue.
During the session chaired by Sherry Rehman, lawmakers raised the issue of excessive and unsupervised use of social media apps by children in Pakistan. The president suggests the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
At the beginning of the session, the house observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the gas leak explosion in Islamabad. Also during the session, newly elected PML-N senator Abid Sher Ali took oath.
PTI senator Ali Zafar raised the issue of denial of jail meetings with Imran, stating that he represents the party’s founder and questioning why the government had not allowed a meeting.
“The court has no involvement; this is a decision of the prison authorities, who operate under the government. This is a political vendetta,” he said. PTI Senator Falak Naz Chitrali added that the PTI founder is being held in solitary confinement. PTI members staged a protest over the issue.
Federal Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar responded that the jail superintendent has the authority to allow visits based on the prisoner’s behavior. He added that Adiala jail belongs to the Punjab government, so the federal government cannot issue directives in this regard.
The Law Minister categorically rejected the claim that the PTI founder was in solitary confinement. He said Imran is in good health, receives meals of his choice and has access to all necessary facilities.
Furthermore, a notice was posted at the house highlighting excessive and unsupervised use of social media applications by children. Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described the issue as “extremely important” and said it deserves a national debate.
The president said the matter involves several ministries, so it cannot be referred to the IT committee of the house alone. He suggested the formation of a special committee, with input from the Ministry of Justice, to examine the issue due to its sensitive nature.
