The government on Wednesday failed to wind up three-day debate on law and order situation when Speaker Amir Hussain abruptly adjourned the House to avoid embarrassment due to lack of quorum.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was trying to justify early this month's military operation against Lal Masjid but the Speaker all of a sudden adjourned the proceedings for Thursday morning.
In the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, parliamentarians of religio-political alliance walked out of the Lower House to protest military operation.
Soon a MMA lawmaker wanted to point out lack of quorum, Hussain interrupted the Interior Minister asking him to wind up the debate on Thursday.
Though Sherpao pressed the Speaker for few more minutes but he did not receive an encouraging response resultantly the proceedings were adjourned.
It was the first appearance of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in 42nd session of the National Assembly and luckily he survived an embarrassment had the quorum been pointed out.
In his incomplete speech, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao made it clear that the government had no plans to take action against any seminary.
"President Musharraf is staunch supporter of religious schools. I want to make it very clear that the government has no plans to take action against any seminary," he stressed.
He mourned the loss of lives in Lal Masjid military operation, which he said was launched after government's all attempts to find a peaceful solution failed.
Sherpao narrated the sequence of events that 'compelled' the government to use force against Lal Masjid brigade that had illegally occupied 7700 sq yards of the area.
"We knew there were militants... we demonstrated maximum restrain to find a peaceful solution but Maulana Rashid Ghazi was not seriously interested in negotiations," he added.
He told the Lower House that some 1,132 people surrendered including 662 males and 470 females. Nearly 604 male students have been released while the rest are in police custody. Similarly, three out of 470 female students are still in police custody.
Earlier, taking part in the debate Mahmood Khan Achakzai demanded of the government to convene a joint sitting of the Parliament in wake of US threats to attack country's tribal areas.
"I tell you Mr Speaker we have to find answers of US allegations otherwise Pakistan will not last," he warned. According to some reports, Achakzai continued, some military personnel were shot dead who had refused to attack Lal Mosque compound.
Besides the supremacy of the constitution, he urged the government to restrict the role of the intelligence agencies. The other opposition members also censured the government for deteriorating law and order situation across the country. Some members said anti-military sentiments were growing among the people therefore, it should go back to the barracks.
MMA parliamentarian Abdul Akbar Chitrali's remarks against Muttahida Qaumi Movement triggered mild protest. He said MQM was a terrorist party and also held it responsible for Karachi carnage on May 12.
Lady MNA Firdous Ashiq Awan, who has joined Pakistan Peoples Party, attended the proceedings this time sitting on opposition benches. The issue of production orders of PML-N jailed President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and MMA legislator Shah Abdul Aziz also echoed in the House.
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