NA prorogued amid lack of quorum

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday prorogued amid the syndrome of the quorum which hit it on the last day of session and even hamper the ongoing debate on the Constitution and even failed to take 91 items of agenda of the day on the private members day.

The quorum was pointed out by PTI legislator Dr Shireen Mazari when Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq gave a floor to treasury member Maulana Amir Zeb to speak on the constitution day.

The count was made but the House was not in order as 70 legislators were seated in the House and Speaker National Assembly suspended proceedings of the House till the completion of the quorum and after 18 minutes of break the session was again started but the House faced lack of quorum after count.

But interesting, when the count was being made members from treasury benches had started moving out from the House that subsequently resulted in lack of quorum and deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbassi read out the Presidential prorogation order.

Earlier, while initiating debate on the constitution day, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq mentioned that Sahibzada Nazir Sultan, who signed on 1973 Constitution, is present among us as a member of this House and it would be appropriate that he should start the debate.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Sahibzada Nazir Sultan, who was one of the members of the Constituent Assembly, which approved and signed the document of 1973 Constitution, announced to retire from the politics saying that now in his place his son will contest election for the National Assembly.

He said the credit goes to Zulifikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed to give nation gift of the Constitution and it was honour for him that his signature was on the document of 1973 Constitution that was passed by the Constituent Assembly.

Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq remarked the whole House was not happy with the decision of Sahibzada Nazir Sultan of retirement from the politics.

Parliamentary leader of the PPP Syed Naveed Qamar while speaking on the Constitution Day said the Constitution is sacred document and no one have any right to make any amendment in it except Parliament. “There was need to discuss on the Constitution Day of all those who played a vital role to make such a document that unite all the federating units and people of Pakistan,” he said.

He said there was iota of doubt in it that the Constitution of Pakistan is a vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and also of the political parties who were united on the Constitution.

“Though twice martial laws were imposed in the country but they failed to repeal the Constitution as people of Pakistan gave their ownership to this sacred document,” he said.

He said no one has a right to write or delete anything from the Constitution but only the Parliament has this right.

Syed Naveed Qamar said the Supreme Court has to give verdict whether there is limit of the disqualification or not but it is Parliament which only could have such powers to decide on it and the Parliament is the only forum for it.

Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while speaking on this issue, demanded of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice to bring back dictator General (R) Pervez Musharraf who abrogated the Constitution. “If Musharraf is dragged into the court then the Constitution and the democracy will be strengthened,” he said.

He said the controversial decisions always weaken the state as Justice Munir had given a decision in favour of the Martial Law.

He said the politicians gave 1973 Constitution as a consensus document that strengthened the federation but despite having article 6 in it, the Constitution was thrice abrogated.

Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar said Objective Resolution was also part of the Constitution that protects the rights of the every citizen and this Constitution is also protector of finality of the Prophethood besides democracy and the parliament.

He paid rich tributes to founder of the PPP and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed.