The exchange of bickering words between treasury and opposition benches and lack of quorum in National Assembly on Friday led the Speaker to adjourn the House in order to avoid any embarrassment. A Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) lawmaker pointed out the quorum, but it was not taken care of by the Chair. This led to exchange of bitter words between Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and PPPP lawmakers, forcing the chair to adjourn the House till Monday.
When, PPPP's Shahjahan Baloch sought floor to point out the quorum when the floor was with Railway Minister who was responding to queries pertaining to his ministry. The Speaker said that he would give floor after the responding by the Minister. Dr Nafisa Shah, Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani of PPPP stood up and said, "Mr Speaker, you should give floor to our member as he is pointing out the quorum."
The Minister said that the opposition members expressed their views and raised questions on the floor but they are not ready to listen to our views and answers and pointing out the quorum. "Is this the conduct of opposition?" He questioned.
This infuriated the opposition which ultimately led to exchange of bitter words between treasury and opposition. In order to stop exchange of fighting words any further, the chair adjourned the hearing as hardly few members were present. Earlier, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that he took many steps to remove encroachments along the railway track. He said that a special post of Director Legal Affair was created to deal with encroachments and illegal occupied land of railway. He said that in this regard many cases are in litigation.
"We have vacated a huge chunk of railways' land from big land mafia. I did not give even one inch land on lease during my tenure of 3 years," he said. Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor regarding non-construction of overhead bridges on Kashmir Highway, Islamabad, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary told the House that Islamabad International Airport will be linked with Metro Bus Service to facilitate the masses.
He said Kashmir Highway has been expanded and carpeted, adding the government is seriously considering constructing overhead bridges or underpasses on this highway for smooth flow of traffic. He said Capital Development Authority (CDA) is carrying out a number of development and beautification projects in the federal capital. He pointed out that an interchange has been planned at Serena Chowk. The CDA is also going to open new housing sectors to generate funds, he added. As many as 7 periodical reports of five various standing committees were presented in the house.
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