The Senate session on Monday was marked by chaos as opposition PTI members demanded the immediate release of their party chairman, Imran Khan, who marked one year in detention on August 5.
The session, which was initially focussed on a resolution condemning India’s actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, quickly devolved into a shouting match. Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz criticised what he called the “illegal” detention of Mr. Khan, prompting PTI senators to don black armbands and chant slogans such as “release Imran Khan” and “give justice.”
The uproar saw members from both sides of the aisle exchanging accusations and slogans, with PTI senators labelling the ruling party as “mandate thieves” and asserting “prime minister Imran Khan,” while PML-N lawmakers countered with chants of “prime minister Nawaz Sharif” and accusations of corruption against the PTI leader.
Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was forced to adjourn the session without addressing most of the agenda items due to the persistent disruptions. Despite objections from former Senate chairman Farooq H. Naek, Gilani allowed Faraz to speak on the Kashmir resolution, during which Faraz also condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and criticised the government’s economic policies.
Faraz denounced the charges against Khan, including the cipher, Toshakhana, and iddat cases, as “shameful,” and accused former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of evading accountability after promoting the slogan “vote ko izzat do.”
Kashmir and Haniyeh resolutions passed unanimously
Despite the disruptions, the Senate managed to pass two significant resolutions. The first demanded that India release Kashmiri political prisoners, cease human rights violations, and implement United Nations Security Council resolutions to allow Kashmiris to determine their future through a fair plebiscite.
“We will continue to raise our voice against injustice and oppression until the Kashmiri people achieve their inalienable right to self-determination,” the resolution stated.
The second resolution, moved by Palwasha Khan, expressed grief over the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh and condemned unprovoked Israeli bombings in Beirut and the killing of civilians in Palestine. The resolution called on the international community, especially Muslim countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to unite against Israel’s actions.
PPP parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman condemned both Israeli and Indian actions, calling for an end to the genocide in occupied Palestine and Kashmir. She highlighted the suffering of children and women in Palestine and criticised the international community’s silence, stating, “Had it happened in any European country, the world would have responded differently.”
The session’s tumultuous nature highlighted the deep divisions within the Senate and underscored the contentious political climate in Pakistan.