Ruling MPs’ absence from NA session irks PPP members

ISLAMABAD: The informal consultative meeting between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq held at the Speaker chamber on Monday after register of their protest with the government over the legislators of the ruling party’s non-serious attitude for avoiding attending the session.

The session hit by quorum and they demanded prime minister should attend the session to tackle the quorum. The PPP represented by Syed Naveed Qamar, Syed Khurshid Shah and Agha Rafiullah.

During Monday sitting of the National Assembly, when PTI pointed our quorum, the PPP legislators were sitting in the lobby and did not come into the house despite repeated requests from the government.

According to sources, the PPP refused to cooperate until the prime minister came to the House. The government requested to PPP in the Speaker’s Chamber to support while the PPP asked for assurance to fulfil the promises on pending issues. Sources said the government gave the assurance to PPP of prime minister’s attendance in the National Assembly.

Later on, in an informal talk with the media, senior leader of PPP Syed Naveed Qamar said PPP does not want to boycott the House, but the government should resolve the quorum issue. “We were repeatedly promised that the prime minister would come to the House but he did not come,” he said.

Naveed Qamar said the problem of quorum will be solved if the prime minister comes to the House. He said, “We do not say he should ensure high quality attendance like Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani but at least be present so that the proceedings of the House can proceed. He said the government has assured, the presence of prime minister today (Tuesday) so now we will see.