Lack of quorum haunts KP Assembly for third consecutive day

PESHAWAR: The proceedings of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were adjourned on Tuesday for the third consecutive day due to lack of quorum

It depicted the lacklustre attitude of the legislators, particularly from treasury benches. Since the beginning of the current session of the assembly, not only the members are avoiding attending it but government officers are also not taking the proceedings of the House seriously.

Three days back, the opposition had raised the issue of the indifferent attitude of the government towards the assembly proceedings. On Tuesday, the proceedings of the assembly started 25 minutes late. Despite the order of Deputy Speaker Mehr Taj Roghani to ring the bells, majority of members failed to enter the House and as a result the session was adjourned. Deputy Speaker Mehr Taj Roghani, who presided over the proceedings, was left with no other option but to adjourn the proceedings when Nighat Orakzai of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) pointed out the lack of quorum after recitation from the holy Quran.

Later, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha told the media that it was very unfortunate that ministers didn't attend the proceeding to reply to the queries He said the ministers lacked the confidence to face the opposition.

Nighat Orakzai said that she pointed out the lack of quorum because only four members of treasury benches were in attendance. Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli of Qaumi Watan Party said the treasury benches didn't take the proceedings seriously.

She said the proceedings were being run against the rules of the assembly. Advisor to Chief Minister for Housing Amjad Ali also criticised his government and said the treasury members should come to the House as huge amount of taxpayers' money was being spent on the proceedings.