ISLAMABAD: The eventful regular 354th session of the Senate was prorogued Friday due to lack of quorum.
The sitting lasted for a few minutes, as PTI’s Saifullah Abro rose to point out lack of quorum. The presiding officer, Manzoor Ahmad Kakar, called for count and on finding insufficient number of members present in the House, bells were rung for five minutes.
However, this move also failed to attract lawmakers to come to the House, leaving the chair with no option but to read out the presidential prorogation order, after the sitting was informed that the roads were closed due to the activities of a religious party, owing to which most of the members could not reach the House.
The government has faced difficulties in ensuring quorum during the current session due to the ongoing strained relations between the ruling PMLN and PPP, which has demanded an apology from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her alleged statements against its leadership. To the contrary, PMLN leaders have said that who would respond, if Punjab is abused and attacked.
Earlier, at very outset, as the House reconvened, it was decided to suspend the question hour for the members present wanted to discuss floods and incidents of terrorism in the country.
On the very first day of the session, PPP Senator from Sindh Zamir Hussain Ghumro had raised the issue of Punjab chief minister’s statements and announced they would not support the government legislation unless she tendered an apology.
Later, PPP parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman had also cautioned on the floor of the Senate against taking her party support lightly, as it remains the single largest party in the House.
A new situation erupted for the government Thursday, when PTI legislators protested against acting Chairman Syedaal Khan, who belongs to PMLN, and wanted him to resign, as he was not ‘fit for the job’.