Lack of quorum continues to haunt proceedings of National Assembly.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly once again could not take up its agenda on Monday and was prorogued sine die due to lack of quorum.

PPP lawmaker Shahida Rehmani pointed out quorum soon after the question hour, following which the chair ordered the count. The attendance of lawmakers was found less than the required strength and the proceedings were suspended. The proceedings resumed after a break but the quorum was still found incomplete, following which the session was prorogued sine die. Seven government bills, two calling attention notices and as many reports of standing committees, a statutory report and a motion of thanks could not be taken due by the Lower House to quorum issue.

Earlier, the proceedings began with a delay of one hour with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair. As the speaker gave the floor to MNA Abdul Qadir Patil of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), he termed the answer of his question regarding a complaint of harassment against NAB chairman submitted by Prime Minister's House 'dissatisfactory', saying that its sheer discrimination with the 'aggrieved woman who is fighting for justice'. "As informed by the Prime Minister's House that they have nothing to do with the complaint, then let us tell where she should go? From whom should she seek justice?" he questioned.

In response, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said as per reply received from the Prime Minister's Office, the NAB is an autonomous institution that can't be ruled by any other office, even by the PM Office. He said that some complaints were being intentionally misused to pressurize the NAB. He said the opposition wanted that there should be no accountability.

The minister said...