ISLAMABAD - Opposition parties in Thursday’s National Assembly session made parliamentary history by pointing out quorum in their own requisitioned session.
These were the remarks by Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, before adjourning the session due to the lack of quorum in the house.
“For the first time it happened in the parliamentary history as opposition pointed out quorum in its own requisitioned session,” said Abbasi.
He further criticized Dr Shireen Mazari (who pointed out the quorum) for leaving the house after pointing out quorum in the house. “This is against the parliamentary norms,” he said adding that the member who pointed out quorum should stay in the house during the counting. Abbasi seemingly settled the score with the opposition parties as in the last session (28th session) the house was suspended and adjourned for around four times due to lack of quorum from the government side.
PTI’s lawmaker, at the fag end of proceeding, pointed out quorum when not more than 20 lawmakers were present in the house.
Babar Nawaz from PML-N, before the adjournment of the house, was strongly criticizing the KP government. “The KP government has no ability to spend 80 percent budget on development projects, which consequently lapsed every year,” he said.
Earlier, the government faced criticism in the National Assembly over recent increase in prices of medicines and winding up debate on PIA privatisation in absence of main opposition members. Expressing reservations, the opposition parties made government hold ‘The National Efficiency and Conservation Bill, 2015’ for further debate on it.
Besides flaying government on different matters, the opposition MQM and PPP also locked horns with each other over some issues.
Taking the floor, Opposition Leader in NA Syed Khursheed Shah strongly criticised government for winding up debate in absence of main opposition parties’ leaders the other day (Wednesday). “This is wrong behaviour of government as the debate was concluded in absence of opposition,” he added.
He also said, “Federal government should control terrorists activities in Punjab as terrorist from Punjab are doing such activities in other area.”
Shah said that incumbent government has failed in controlling the rising prices of medicines. MQM also joined hands with PPP on this issue. “Government should play its part in maintaining fair prices of medicines,” said MQM lawmaker Sulman Baloch, before staging a protest walkout. Baloch also criticised PPP-led government in Sindh for not giving rights to local bodies.
Taking part in presidential debate, MQM leader remarked that President delivered speech only on government dictation. “Why interior minister is not taking action against Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz,” he said and strongly criticised PPP for playing a supportive role with PML-N. PPP’s senior leader Aijaz Jhakrani, in response to MQM’s criticism, remarked that MQM will rush to join federal government only if offered by PML-N government. “PPP always played role of opposition for strengthening democracy but MQM always changed its policies with circumstances,” he said.
Taking part in debate, PTI’s Murad Saeed said Pakistan is going to default due to foreign loans that have surged to $70 billion. Citing a report of an international organisation, he further said government should immediately share facts with the house in this regard. He said that Rs370 million have been spent only on the wall of Jati Umra (residence of Nawaz Sharif).
Earlier, government over the stiff resistance of opposition parties deferred ‘The National Energy Efficiency and Conversation Bill, 2015’. PPP’s Azra Fazal Pecheuho said that the purpose of passing this bill was to facilitate some certain elements. “There is no need of an alternative board,” she said, talking about the bill.
Dr Shireen Mazari and Arif Alvi from PTI also expressed reservation over the bill. “How this bill could be passed without addressing our (opposition) reservations,” said Alvi. MQM’s S Iqbal Qadri said that there was a need to review this bill in Council of Common Interest (CCI).
Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif, after resistance from opposition, asked the chair to defer this bill. “Electricity could be saved by shutting down markets in the evening,” he said, adding that the government is ready to pass this bill with consequences. He said CCI has cleared the bill before its introduction in the house.
“Under the bill no new infrastructure is being built but the already existing ENERCON organisation is being strengthened,” he said, adding that the basic purpose of the bill is to stop wastage of electricity and save up to 2500MW of energy through conservation and improved efficient use of energy.