The refusal of Speaker National Assembly to allow a debate on devastation caused by floods and heavy rains in the NWFP triggered an opposition walkout on Friday. Earlier, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) also walked out from the House separately when the Speaker did not allow a lawmaker from the tribal area to explain his alleged links with terror outfits.
The proceedings of the House that once again started more than 30 minutes beyond schedule was marred by the opposition back-to-back walkouts, as the chair could not dispose of a single item on the agenda except the Question Hour.
The opposition lawmakers did not show any interest in the question hour and consistently requested the chair for points of order.
The situation worsened when the adjournment motions of opposition members to discuss what they called 'government's lethargic approach' in providing relief to the people affected by torrential rains and floods in NWFP during May-June were rejected.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also appeared in the House and remained there till it was adjourned.
Speaker Amir Hussain took up three out of five opposition's adjournment motions as two were dropped due to absence of the movers.
However, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Niazi opposed all the motions and despite requests of opposition members said the matter was not current therefore, it could not be discussed. He conducted a headcount that resulted into opposition's defeat and consequently the adjournment motions were rejected.
According to the Speaker, 114 members were present at that moment from both sides of the aisle including 84 members from treasury benches and 34 from opposition.
MMA central leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed expressed anger over not allowing them to speak on the issue and said the government was adopting discriminatory behaviour with the NWFP government.
He said as the Speaker has himself informed the House that 84 treasury members have voted which means the quorum was not complete. The combined opposition staged walkout from the House and did not turn up till the adjournment.
Earlier, Nek Zaman of Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (F) requested the Speaker to allow him to clarify his position over his alleged links with suspected terrorist network.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Wednesday said a parliamentarian belonging to JUI-F was being probed for alleged links with terror outfits and the government would take stern action against him if found guilty.
The minister was quoted as saying that intelligence agencies were investigating the involvement of MNA Nek Zaman and his brother for supporting suspected terrorists hiding in North Waziristan Agency.
Speaking on the floor, Nek Zaman categorically denied all these charges and said he has no links with any anti-state elements. "Neither I nor any of my family member have links with terrorists," he emphatically said.
Zaman said the government while levelling such baseless charges against him has breached the privilege of the august House. He alleged that the government was orchestrating to wage another unjust war in the North Waziristan.
However, the Speaker switched off his mike and did not allow the JUI MNA to speak further. Lawmakers from Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal stood up from their seats and asked the Speaker to let him complete his explanation.
Meanwhile, another member from tribal area, Maulana Haroonur Rasheed took the floor and complained of victimisation from the political administration.
He informed the House that he had written a letter to President Musharraf and also submitted a privilege motion to the Speaker office but no action has been taken yet.
Amir Hussain switched off his mike as well, sparking a noisy protest from the MMA members, followed by a walkout.
Except Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, lawmakers from PML-N, PTI and other opposition parties also joined them later on.
Both federal and state ministers for interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Shahzad Waseem respectively were present in the House but did not utter any word.
Speaking on a point of order, PML-N MNA Khwaja Muhammad Asif condemned President Musharraf's reported statement that some women get themselves raped for the sake of visa.
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