PESHAWAR - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly witnessed uproar and ‘Go-Imran-Go’ and ‘Go-Nawaz-Go’ slogans after a treasury lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum to Deputy Speaker Dr Mehar Taj Roghani who presided over the session on Friday.

The question-answer session was in progress when the PTI legislature Mehmood Khan drew the attention of the speaker to lack of quorum. The speaker ordered the assembly staff to ring the bells for two minutes but none of the lawmakers turned up.

On this occasion, the chair has to suspend proceedings for 15 more minutes, however, after starting the proceedings the number of lawmakers slashed further, which prompted the legislatures belonging to the joint opposition, who were in majority, to chant slogans of “Go-Imran-Go’ and ‘Go-Nawaz-Go’. 

Besides, the opposition members also threw away copies of the assembly’s agenda and held treasury benches responsible for lack of quorum alleging  the PTI government was spending millions of rupees on one-day session of the provincial assembly but it has totally failed to ensure the attendance of its members, which they termed regrettable.

The legislatures affiliated with the JI, being a coalition partner in the PTI-led government in KP, remained silent on this occasion.  The JUI-F’s MPA Mufti Janan and PML-N’s Parliamentary leader Aurangzen Nalota said that they were witnessing the change, which the PTI Chief Imran Khan had promised with people of KP. The opposition’s protest and lack of quorum in the house led to the adjournment of the session till coming Monday afternoon without completing the agenda.

Talking to media persons, Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman, ANP’s Parliamentary leader Sardar Hussian Babak, PPP’s Saleem Khan and PML-N’s Aurangzeb Nalota severely criticised the PTI government in the province alleged that the government was not serious in running the house.

They were of the view that the PTI government in KP was planning how to block Islamabad on November 2. They said that targeted killing and extortion was on the rise in the province, but unfortunately, the government had become a silent spectator.

Accusing the PTI of creating chaos in the country, they said that Imran Khan’s party had failed to deliver. Instead of threatening to dissolve the KP Assembly, CM Pervez Khattak should himself resign from government, they said, adding there was not too much difference between TTP and PTI, the former is a militant organisation, while the latter is its political wing.