Despite on agenda, the treasury benches on Friday smartly skipped consideration of bill on establishment of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, fearing another defeat thereon. As the things stand in the National Assembly on Friday, the treasury would find it extremely difficult to prove its majority when the budget proceedings are starting on June 6.
On the second day of the new session, summoned primarily to present the budget, the treasury failed to ensure presence of 86 members for lack of quorum.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) pointed out the quorum and after the count, business was suspended for five minutes, but to the government's dismay, still required number was not around.
Apparently like Thursday, the ruling coalition members were lesser than the opposition lawmakers. Therefore, the chair after disposing item-12 on the agenda allowed a volley of points of orders.
He deliberately left the remaining agenda untouched while the next item was moving of a motion to get rescinded rejection of Clause-11 of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources Bill.
The opposition had already rejected the bill, saying the council would be good for nothing, paving way for further burdening the national exchequer.
Later, a clear division was visible between Jamaat and Jamiat Ulema Islam (Fazl group) members: the former insisted for opening debate, while the latter did not join them. Jamaat lawmakers walked out of the House and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and a few others glued to their seats.
Taunting Jamaat members, Farooq Sattar thanked Hafiz Hussain Ahmed for not joining Jamaat's walkout. The division in the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) inside the House was quite understandable after Maulana Fazl and Qazi Hussain Ahmed differed on MMA's participation in the National Security Council meetings.
It is for the first time that the alliance could not hide its internal rift on the floor of the House, as a war of words raged between Jamaat and JUI (Fazl) leadership with no end in sight.
Earlier, tempers ran high again for the second day in the House with Jamaat-i-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) trading allegations of spoiling peace under a well-conceived conspiracy.
Though the chair wanted to initiate debate on law and order situation after the MMA filed an adjournment motion before the break for Friday prayers, but could not, as the MMA lawmakers started agitation.
They said that since they had moved the motion, therefore, it was their right to open debate. However, the chair gave floor to MQM parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar.
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