Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to attend the National Assembly session on Monday after a six-month gap. The premier was last seen in the lower house of parliament in late July during the presidential election.
Since taking oath first as National Assembly member and then leader of the house, the premier has so far attended only seven sittings of the lower house out of over 50 held over the span of seven full sessions.
According to the details, the PM had attended the NA sitting of June 1 (oath taking), June 3 (election of speaker and deputy speaker), June 5 (election of prime minister), June 10 (first joint sitting addressed by then president Asif Ali Zardari), June 12 and 24 (budget session) and finally on July 29 (presidential elections).
During his last appearance in the assembly the prime minister had been there for 65 minutes, according to a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) fact sheet on NA proceedings.
Upcoming session
The eighth session is starting at a time when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is evolving a new strategy about launching a ground offensive in the North Waziristan Agency.
PM Sharif has convened a meeting of PML-N’s parliamentary party on Monday. PML-N members of assembly in general and ministers in particular have been asked to make sure their presence for Monday’s session.
The opposition had complained several times about the absence of the members and house proceedings have ended unceremoniously due to lack of required number of 86 out of 342 members to complete the quorum.
After the meeting the PM is likely to address the National Assembly, according to the sources, over the volatile security situation in the country.
However, the PM office did not confirm that the premier would address the National Assembly.
Security situation not on agenda
Sources in the National Assembly Secretariat told The Express Tribune that the first sitting does not have any special agenda item.
A senior official revealed that the agenda items include Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, two calling attention notice on the Vehari train accident and the other on non-payment of salaries to the employees of Pakistan Steel Mills.
Responding to a question about Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, the official said that the secretariat has not received it. However, there is likelihood that the ordinance would be laid before the house during the next session as it has been approved by the standing committee.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.
COMMENTS (10)
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Give the prime minister a break. His excelency holds three portfolios on top of being the prime minister. How many times IK has participated
The PM more popular as the King has made seven sittings in the National Assembly sessions and the last being on July 29 2013 (Presidential Election) which we should assume as miracle on his part sparing his time from his foreign visit schedule. The entire nation should be "Thankful" to him that despite his busy shedule, he has again spared his precious time to attend the National Assembly Session for the 8th time after a span of nearing Seven Months. The tips of the agenda for the session are of least priority in the current scenairo. Entertaining JUI by offering them ministeries in his cabinet means a lot ...... !! Appears that the PM is not so serious from his inside and determined to pass his tenure and grasp the countrys' wealth because he also knows that he will never get this opportunity again. God Bless Pakistan !!!
Atlast he got some free time after designing the youth loan form.
@Rumormonger: Haha...hilarious!
The lion of Punjab thought about it. Dithered about it. Consulted with his Pir. Talked to an astrologer. Discussed it with his brother.Got the army's permission. Decision made. He will be there.
Don't know what compelled him. He is the king, there is absolutely no necessity of him to attend NA sessions.
Should it not be a routine matter for a Prime Minister to attend parliament sessions. After all it is the national assembly which elects its' Leader (of the House), a position which confers the title of Prime Minister. Perhaps in Pakistan, we need to rewrite the rules book. Well done Nawaz Sharif; keep it up.
Someone must have convinced him that Pakistan is now a foreign country.
His highness finally going to sit with ordinary legislatures
Please don't PM. No compulsion in democracy - the one that you practice.