ISLAMABAD: Opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday staged a walked out of the House in protest against furnishing of incorrect replies by the government of the questions asked by members.
Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf pointed out lack of quorum and the proceedings of the House remained suspended for about twenty minutes.
Federal Minister Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and Mahmood Khan Acahkzai later pursued the opposition members to end the walk-out.
Abdul Qadir Baloch said it was opposition’s right to point out government’s mistakes, but it always opted to disrupt House proceedings by pointing out lack of quorum. He also asked the PTI to change its parliamentary leader.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the opposition members blamed the Speaker for being ‘biased’. He said he had asked the Speaker to be impartial as it would be better for the government. The “biased” attitude of the Speaker would be harmful for the government as well as the Parliament.
PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi said pointing out lack of quorum in the House was the responsibility of the opposition, while the government should fulfill it duty to maintain quorum.
Both the Senate Chairman and his deputy were running the Upper House of Parliament smoothly as their conduct was parliamentary. Here in the National Assembly, it was the opposite. All the parties should be given proper representation, he added
He said smooth running of the House was in the government’s favour. It should hear the criticism with an open heart. The government was not seriously taking the issue of Saudi-Iran conflict and other issues. A session of the NA Committee on Foreign Affairs should be called and the Saudi Foreign Minister should give it a briefing. All the policies should be devised in consultation with the Parliament.
Shireen Mazari said one could not be respected for age. (Advisor) Sartaj Aziz always tried to avoid or delay giving answers to questions. If the government considered that the House could not be run without quorum, then it should ensure its members presence. Opposition members attended the House at 10.30am, but those from the treasury did not consider their obligation to come into the house timely. The government was not giving due importance to the Parliament, which was the place to discuss public problems. The House should be given briefing on the 34-state alliance (against Islamic State), Nawaz-Modi meeting and the Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka.
Deputy Speaker Murtaza Abbasi, who was in the chair, sent the questions regarding blocked Computerized National Identity Cards to the committee due to incomplete replies given by Minister of State for Interior Baligh-ur-Rehman.
Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch had remarked that the persons, whose CINCs were blocked, were Pshtoons
During the proceedings, the Deputy Speaker remarked that the Speaker should not be given a lesson as to how run the House proceedings. INP
