Uninterupted proceedings: PPP overlooks lack of quorum in NA

Khursheed Shah presents reports for years 1998-99, 2003-04

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lent the government a helping hand on Monday in the National Assembly, saving it from potential embarrassment when it overlooked apparent lack of quorum, allowing the proceedings to continue uninterrupted.

As the House resumed the second sitting of the new session after a two-day break, PPP’s Naveed Qamar, who is well-versed in parliamentary norms, mentioned the lack of quorum, but let the deputy speaker continue proceedings without forcing the chair for a headcount.

Qamar stood up just as the deputy speaker started taking up legislative business, and raised objections over the passing of bills amid absence of quorum required for a session.

PTI has consistently been boycotting assembly sessions while MQM lawmakers hardly show up these days. In the absence of a true opposition, members on the treasury benches appeared to be more relaxed in having an indulgent PPP on opposition benches.

Front row seats, reserved for important cabinet members, remained vacant throughout the session.



Sheikh Aftab, the minister of state for parliamentary affairs, once again represented most of his colleagues during the question-hour. However, law minister Zahid Hamid appeared to deal with technical issues such as legislative business.

Representing minister for defence production Rana Tanveer, Hamid was halfway through the final reading of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Bill, 2016 when Qamar raised the issue of quorum.

On Hamid’s request PPP agreed to let the bill pass. They agreed to defer the next item on the agenda; the passing of Pakistan National Accreditation Council Bill, 2016 till Wednesday.

The government also submitted a report on the contentious Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Bill, 2016. It would replace the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act of 1956.

PAC reports

During house proceedings, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Khursheed Shah presented PAC reports for 1998-99, 2003-04, 2007-08 and report of PAC on monitoring and implementation for the year, 1996-97.

Stressing the need for empowering PAC, Khursheed Shah said that the house should hold a debate on PAC reports. Urging fellow assembly members to amend the basic law relating to PAC, making it more independent, he pointed out that PAC recovered Rs119 billion for national exchequer.

In-flight prayer space

Responding to a call-attention notice, lawmakers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) urged the government to provide ample prayer space on all PIA flights.

FATA reforms

The details of the package will be prepared by a committee, led by Sartaj Aziz, the adviser to Prime Minister on foreign affairs.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2016.