Absence of ministers, secretaries: NA deputy speaker writes letter to PM

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to draw his attention to the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries during the Question Hour of the National Assembly on March 20.

“This blatant disregard for parliamentary proceedings is not only a severe dereliction of duty but also an affront to the fundamental principle of collective ministerial responsibility,” he stated. 

He also wrote a letter to Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal in this regard. He pointed out that the Ministries of Power and and Communications had 12 questions and seven questions respectively. To the utter dismay of the House, no representative from these ministries was present. 

He said the absence of ministers meant that critical public interest issues remained unaddressed, undermining the very purpose of parliamentary accountability. “No alternative arrangements were put in place to ensure that the questions receive due consideration, exacerbating the disruption of proceedings,” he stated.