Khurshid refuses to initiate debate on Presidential address

While recording protest against absence of Prime Minister and most of cabinet members from the lower house of the parliament, Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Thursday refused to initiate debate on Presidential address to the joint sitting of the Parliament. "I will not deliver my speech on the presidential address unless the leader of the house comes to the Parliament," Khurshid Shah said.
He regretted that the Parliament was not given required importance by the incumbent government. "To whom I should covey my views as I have made a lot of preparation for the speech," the Opposition Leader questioned?. After refusing to speak, Khurshid Shah immediately left the National Assembly. As many as six months have passed since the address of the President to joint session of the Parliament but the debate could not be started in the House, he said.
Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi who was chairing the proceedings asked Federal Minister Zahid Hamid to convey concerns of the Opposition leader to the authorities concerned. Zahid Hamid, however, said the Opposition leader was presenting excuses for not delivering speech in the House. He said that the debate can also be initiated in the absence of the Premier. Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq suspended proceedings of the house for over 45 minutes till the completion of quorum after an independent member Jamshed Dasti pointed out towards lack of quorum in the House.