ISLAMABAD: PTI lawmakers staged a protest in the Senate on Tuesday after Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, who is currently incarcerated, was unable to attend the session despite a production order being issued by the Senate chairman. Opposition leader Syed Shibli Faraz expressed regret that the Punjab government had not complied with the order, preventing the “high-profile prisoner” from attending. He described the failure to bring the senator to the house as “contempt of parliament,” and urged both sides of the aisle to protest the move. Opposition members carried placards with photos of Senator Chaudhry and PTI founder Imran Khan during the proceedings.
The protest also centered on the Supreme Courtβs recent ruling on PTI’s iconic bat symbol, which the court revoked just weeks before the 2024 elections. Faraz criticized the decision, accusing the court of attempting to disenfranchise millions. He also pointed out that some parties were allowed to contest elections without conducting intra-party elections, implying an unfair advantage. Faraz further lamented that the PTI leadership faced hundreds of false charges and criticized the government for its economic failures, including its inability to sell the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) despite limited interest from potential buyers.
In response, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal defended the court’s decision, placing blame on the PTI for not holding intra-party elections for three years and delaying the general elections due to issues with the national census. He also accused the PTI of causing significant financial losses to PIA and defaming the airline internationally, leading to bans on PIA flights to Europe and the US.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the PTI’s demand for the release of all imprisoned members, stating that a blanket amnesty was not feasible given the serious charges, including terrorism and corruption, that many faced. He advised the PTI to seek relief through the courts. Regarding the production order for Senator Chaudhry, Tarar emphasized that it was the responsibility of the authorities to ensure its implementation.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke on the state of PIA, noting that 22 planes were operational, and efforts were underway to restore flights to the UK. He acknowledged concerns raised by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman about PIAβs financial troubles and fleet management. Dar confirmed that the privatisation process would resume soon and revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry into a controversial PIA advertisement. He expressed disappointment with the advertisement’s portrayal, which was criticized by European analysts and security experts.
