ISLAMABAD: A fresh political controversy has emerged after the suspension of live broadcast from the Senate of Pakistan, prompting strong criticism from the opposition and calls for clarity and accountability. Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas condemned the move and questioned the authority behind halting live transmissions of parliamentary proceedings.
While addressing the upper house, Allama Abbas, who holds the position with backing from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, stated that live streaming is often stopped during certain speeches without any explanation. He stressed that the Senate is a constitutional institution, and any disruption in its proceedings should be transparent. He demanded to know who ordered the suspension and under what rules such a decision was made.
Responding to these concerns, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law and Justice, clarified that the government has no role in suspending Senate broadcasts. He explained that the authority lies solely with the Chairman of the Senate, adding that freedom of speech has constitutional limits that must be observed during parliamentary sessions.
The issue gained further attention as it followed a recent incident in which the National Assembly YouTube channel appeared inaccessible. At that time, the National Assembly Secretariat rejected claims of censorship, explaining that the disruption was due to a temporary technical fault rather than any deliberate action to stop coverage.
During the same session, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also raised concerns regarding the health of PTI founder Imran Khan. He termed it a serious matter and proposed forming a delegation of senators to visit the hospital and assess the situation personally. He reiterated that the PTI founder does not seek release through any deal.
In response, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the Senate that Imran Khan’s health is satisfactory and there is no cause for concern. He said the former prime minister was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences with his consent, where a medical board of specialists conducted a detailed examination and administered treatment. The minister also emphasized that any decision regarding release rests solely with the courts, as Imran Khan is a convicted prisoner.
