Heated exchanges erupted in the Senate on Friday over rising poverty, the alleged mistreatment of detained female political leaders and activists - including Noreen Niazi, sister of former prime minister Imran Khan - and concerns over extrajudicial killings. Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that Pakistan was heading towards "economic destruction," stressing that the rule of law was essential for the country's progress.
"Why don't we talk about children who are victims of hunger? Why do we talk about bureaucrats' children?
Don't create insecurity by putting someone's wife or sisters in jail," he said, demanding the release of all detained women. He alleged that the government had taken control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, imposed governor's rule, and was now taunting the opposition over its inability to bring people onto the streets.
"You have captured the province, imposed governor's rule, everything is in your hands. You taunt that no one is coming out.
If you let someone come out, people will come out. Now release our sisters and daughters from jails," he demanded.
However, he welcomed the permission granted to Noreen Niazi to meet her daughter, calling it a positive development. He maintained that women deserved respect and should not be subjected to imprisonment, adding that house arrest could be considered as an alternative.
Taking the floor, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader Senator Barrister Ali Zafar referred to a World Bank report, claiming that Pakistan accounted for 48 percent of the people living below the poverty line across the region. He said the poverty threshold referred to in the report was an income of less than 3 dollars a day, adding that the situation reflected the government's failure to address the economic hardships of the population.
"This is a failure of our government. Inflation has increased and its impact is reaching the poor," he said.
He also pointed out that many areas lacked access to drinking water and secondary schools, arguing that the government should focus on addressing these basic public needs instead of imposing governor's rule and emergency measures. PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz also protested over the treatment of Noreen Niazi, questioning why she was being subjected to what he described as cruelty.
Responding to the opposition's concerns, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry assured the House that no negligence would be tolerated regarding her health. He said Noreen Niazi had been taken to the hospital on the advice of doctors rather than at her own request, maintaining that medical treatment would be determined by healthcare professionals.
"Treatment is not done on wish; treatment is done on doctors' advice. Doctors will decide where to take her," he said.
He added that the government was particularly sensitive to the matter because she was a woman and that ensuring her well-being was its responsibility. Meanwhile, PTI Senator Azam Swati said he had spoken to Noreen Niazi's husband, who informed him that her treatment was progressing satisfactorily.
He also thanked the government for allowing her to meet her family.