NA proceedings adjourned without any business

ISLAMABAD: The proceedings of the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday were adjourned without taking up any business as the opposition parties stuck to their demand of resignation of the Federal Minister Faisal Vawda and cancelation of his membership of the House.

The Speaker Asad Qaisar occupied his seat at around 7.30 instead of 4: pm and announced adjournment of proceedings soon after the national anthem.

The office of the Speaker did not state any reasons for delayed start and adjournment of proceedings. However, the sources said deadlock between the government and opposition benches persisted on objectionable remarks of Faisal Vawda on a television channel.

The PML-N parliamentarian Ahsan Iqbal, later talking to newsmen, said the government had almost suspended the Parliament and there has been no business for the second day. He said the government should seek resignation of the federal minister for his objectionable remarks. “The government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is misusing religion to fan hatred between people of different religions,” he said, adding the government was doing nothing but staging dramas.

He alleged that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was not being provided health facilities. “The government will be responsible in anything happened to Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

The issue of remarks uttered by the federal minister on a television channel was raised by members of Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and they were also supported by other opposition parties in the House. "We demand cancellation of his membership for use of highly objectionable words," they said. They also wanted to get a resolution passed by the House to condemn act of the minister. The government side, however, feels that Faisal Vawda be given an opportunity to explain his position.