Absenteeism, theatrics disrupt Senate session

Memogate, NATO attack was on the agenda.

ISLAMABAD:

Lack of quorum, fuelled by theatrics, took its toll on Senate proceedings when the presiding officer abruptly called off the session on Wednesday.

The house was convened following demands by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for a debate on the recent Nato air strikes and the memogate issue.

The special session which began on December 2, had previously endorsed the government’s response to the Nato attack in Mohmand Agency through a unanimously approved resolution, however the memogate issue is yet to be discussed.

With two burning issues on the agenda, Senator Saeeda Iqbal of the Pakistan Peoples Party pointed out that 25 senators were absent during the session, forcing Afrasiab Khattak, the presiding officer, to adjourn the house for 15 minutes. However, “even after 15 minutes, the situation remained the same” leader of the house Syed Nayyer Bokhari of the PPP said in an attempt to persuade the chair to end the session.

Failing the first time, Bokhari stood up again, saying he wanted to move a resolution that the question hour dropped by the house the other day be brought back on the agenda.

Just as Khattak got done gathering leave applications of absent senators, a call for Maghrib prayers halted the proceedings. “Let’s resume the session after prayers,” the chairman said, adjourning the house for another 15 minutes.

The session scheduled for 4 pm, resumed around 5:45 pm, causing a delay of an hour and 45 minutes.

Lack of quorum was pointed out once again by a member of the treasury benches.

Senator Ishaq Dar of the PML-N reminded Khattak that it had been agreed that a discussion on the agenda would resume on Wednesday, however, the session was discontinued.

Several members from the treasury benches, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sabir Baloch were present in Parliament but didn’t feel the need to show up when the proceedings were being prorogued.

“Rehman Malik and Sabir Baloch left the house and did not return. We can also stage such dramas but most of the time we cooperate with the government on matters of national interest,” Dar said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Malik appeared before the media later to dispel rumors about President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Dubai saying that media reports had overplayed the president’s visit for a routine medical checkup.

“I will move an adjournment motion for a discussion regarding the memo in the upcoming Senate session,” Dar said.

Earlier in the day, President Zardari summoned the 76th session of Senate on Friday at 10:30 am.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2011.