Important business to be transacted in 50th NA session

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly will transact in its 50th session some important business, including legislation. The session is commencing today (Thursday), and it is likely that the opposition has planned to agitate some political issues in the sitting that will continue for two weeks.

The session is starting with delay of one week due to non-availability of the speaker, who was out of the country. Nasir Ahmad Bhutta has been assigned to look after the legislation as he has been appointed Adviser to the Prime Minister for Law and Justice on Wednesday. He will make maiden appearance in his new capacity today in the National Assembly.

He was member of the house during the previous National Assembly. Bhutta’s appointment has come in the wake of stepping down by Law and Justice Minister Zahid Hamid, who quit the office last month. The session of the National Assembly believed to be the last of the year, and it is expected that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will turn up in the sittings more often since he has made up his mind to enhance interaction with the members of parliament.

Former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who is facing disciplinary action from his party, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will also attend the session and put across his point of view regarding allegations which caused the action against him by the PML-N.

The opposition PPP and PTI will raise the issue of Najafi report regarding Model Town, Lahore incident and will urge to discuss the matter afresh in the national legislature. The sources pointed out that the PTI is mulling to agitate the question of non-appearance of former first lady and member-elect National Assembly from NA-120 Lahore, Begum Kulsum Nawaz, who returned from the seat vacated by her spouse Nawaz Sharif, and she is under treatment in London where her chemotherapy is being conducted.

The recent sits-in of Faizabad in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi and Chairing Cross, Lahore, would also figure during the session. The House will have question-hours in the beginning of the proceedings. The observers are of the view that the quorum syndrome would continue to haunt the National Assembly during the session in question since most of the members are busy in their respective constituencies for electioneering.

The PTI rebellious member Aysha Gulalai has planned to bring some new startling revelations about her former party chief Imran Niazi during the session. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who had gone to Russia and returned a day earlier, will chair the sitting.

The National Assembly will host Speakers Conference in the last week of the month. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will give the schedule of the same during the session, the sources said. The House is likely to condone delay in certain reports of the committees that will be tabled today.