The opposition in the Senate has strongly criticized the “suspension” of the upper house’s live broadcast, demanding an explanation for the interruptions. Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, whose appointment was supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated that the live streaming is sometimes halted during certain speeches without any given reason. He emphasized that the Senate is a constitutional body and called for clarification on who is responsible for ordering such suspensions.

In response, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar asserted that the decision to suspend broadcasts lies with the Senate Chairman and not the government. He further noted that the Constitution defines the boundaries of free speech.

This issue echoes a previous incident where the National Assembly’s YouTube channel experienced inaccessibility, with live proceedings temporarily unavailable. The National Assembly secretariat had attributed that disruption to a technical fault rather than a deliberate attempt to block coverage.

In a separate matter, Allama Abbas also raised concerns about the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, proposing a delegation of senators to visit the hospital to assess his condition firsthand. He added that the PTI founder is not seeking release through any “deal.”

Minister Tarar informed the Senate that Imran Khan’s health is “satisfactory” and there are no immediate concerns. He stated that his assessment was based on consultation with the Executive Director of PIMS hospital. Tarar confirmed that the former prime minister was transported to PIMS as scheduled and with his consent. A medical board, comprising four specialist doctors, conducted a thorough examination, after which Imran Khan received a second dose of his prescribed treatment.

Regarding calls for the PTI founder’s release, the law minister reiterated that as a convicted prisoner, only the courts have the authority to grant his release.