ISLAMABAD: Senators belonging to the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) walked out of the Senate on Thursday after the party’s parliamentary leader, Syed Ali Zafar, raised concerns over reports that Bushra Bibi had been “suddenly and suspiciously” shifted from Adiala Jail to a hospital during the night and later returned without any official disclosure.
Speaking on a point of order, Zafar said the reports had triggered “grave apprehension and concern throughout the country”. He described the incident as “highly strange and secretive” and questioned the lack of transparency surrounding Bushra Bibi’s reported medical visit.
He asked why the public had not been informed if Bushra Bibi was unwell and questioned which hospital she had been taken to, what medical tests had been carried out, which doctors had examined her and why she had been immediately returned to jail afterward.
Zafar said the silence maintained by the government and jail authorities had made the matter “even more suspicious”.
The PTI senator further claimed that Bushra Bibi had been subjected to “solitary confinement, mental torture and extremely harsh conditions” during her imprisonment. He alleged that her personal doctors were being denied access, meetings with family members were restricted and information regarding her medical treatment was being withheld.
“Such treatment is not only inhumane but also contrary to fundamental human rights and constitutional protections,” he said, adding that political differences should not lead to anyone’s health or life being endangered.
Questioning the government’s intentions, he asked whether it had “become so vindictive that it had lost all conscience”.
Presenting PTI’s stance before the House, Zafar laid out seven demands. These included the immediate release of Bushra Bibi’s medical reports, permission for her personal doctors to examine her, unrestricted family meetings and her transfer to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
He also demanded the formation of an independent medical board, permission for human rights organisations and a Senate committee — including PTI senators — to visit her, and referral of the issue to the Senate Human Rights Committee with instructions to send a delegation to assess her condition.
“Transparency and adherence to human rights are essential in a democratic society,” Zafar said, adding that the public deserved clarity regarding Bushra Bibi’s health.
Warning the government, he said PTI would boycott the Senate session if its demands were ignored. “If we have to go to court for small matters, then what is the upper house for?” he asked, while describing the Senate as the country’s “biggest and most sacred house”.
He added that if PTI had been in government, it would have immediately arranged a meeting and resolved the issue without delay.
Responding to the concerns, Prime Minister’s aide Rana Sanaullah advised PTI lawmakers to follow the legal process and seek court permission to visit the jail before raising the matter in Parliament.
Following the exchange, PTI senators staged a walkout from the House.
Meanwhile, Aimal Wali Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP) said parliamentary proceedings should not be disrupted over minor matters. However, he stressed that if the issue concerned medical treatment, Bushra Bibi should be provided with proper healthcare and access to doctors.
Calling for a political solution, Aimal Wali suggested forming a committee comprising senior politicians and sending it to Adiala Jail to independently assess whether Bushra Bibi and PTI founder Imran Khan were being provided adequate facilities.
Separately, Sherry Rehman, the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the Senate, criticised the anti-encroachment operation in Bari Imam. She said poor residents living in informal settlements were being treated “inhumanely” through police shelling and bulldozer action.