Quorum row derails Punjab Assembly proceedings

Opposition, treasury accuse each other of blocking agenda

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday once again witnessed the treasury and opposition using quorum as a political tool to obstruct each other's agenda, forcing the House to be adjourned indefinitely without completing its scheduled business.

The sitting, convened on the opposition's requisition, began one hour and 42 minutes late under the chairmanship of Panel of Chairpersons member Raja Shaukat Bhatti.

Proceedings opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Naat and the national anthem.

Before the House could proceed with the agenda, PTI lawmaker Hafiz Farhat Abbas raised a point of order, claiming it had been agreed during a committee meeting a day earlier that opposition members would be allowed to speak after the question hour.

He alleged that during the previous sitting, treasury members deliberately pointed out a lack of quorum immediately after the question hour to prevent the opposition from speaking on current political issues.

Farhat Abbas urged the chair to suspend the rules and allow the opposition to address the House first, saying lawmakers wanted to discuss important national matters, including the Dar family issue.

"We want to speak on national issues, but we are not allowed to do so," he said.

However, when the government moved to proceed with its legislative agenda without accommodating the opposition's request, opposition members pointed out a lack of quorum.

The chair ordered a headcount, which confirmed that the House lacked the required quorum. Consequently, the sitting was adjourned indefinitely.

The day's agenda included the Industries Department's question hour, calling attention notices, five adjournment motions, the introduction of bills relating to three private universities, debate on eight resolutions and discussion on matters of public importance.

None of the scheduled business could be taken up due to the quorum shortfall, marking another disruption in Assembly proceedings amid continued political confrontation between the treasury and the opposition.