MQM lawmakers fail to table census audit motion

Speaker rejects motion, saying they do not want to delay elections

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday staged a walkout after the National Assembly speaker restrained them from moving a resolution, calling for third-party audit of the population census.

During the second last session of the assembly’s tenure, the MQM legislators insisted that the audit was essential and avoiding it was “not good for elections”.

“We do not want to delay elections,” said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq while rejecting Sheikh Salahuddin’s resolution.

Speaking on a point of order, Salahuddin reminded the house that the audit of the census had been promised by the prime minister.

“Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has not yet issued a notification, therefore, the house must be taken into confidence,” he said.



When refused, the MQM lawmakers walked out of the house in protest. They were, however, invited back some time later after which they took part in the concluding session.

Provinces have already scuttled the government’s effort in the Council of Common Interests on May 27 to announce the final results of the population census, effectively deferring the decision until the next government was sworn in.

Farewell speeches

Almost all members of the National Assembly who spoke on Wednesday thanked the speaker and the deputy speaker for their patience and perseverance.

PML-N’s Capt (retd) Safdar warned “aliens and conspirators” to “avoid sabotaging the elections and subverting the people’s mandate”.

He said the issue related to former spymaster Gen (retd) Asad Durrani should be resolved in parliament rather that the General Headquarters (GHQ).

Safdar blamed Principal Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad for impeding the party’s nominees from becoming the caretaker prime minister.



Ijaz Jakhrani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) agreed with him and said no power other than the people should decide the fate of future governments.

The house also expressed concern over sexual harassment charges brought forward by girls studying at an educational institution in Islamabad. Taking to social media, the girls have accused a male teacher of harassing them during practical examinations.

Condemning the incident, the lawmakers said that all girls needed to be protected.