The opposition as well as Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP)-an ally of the ruling government-staged a walkout on Thursday from National Assembly in protest against the absence of ministers in the house and secretaries concerned in the gallery. The major opposition political party Pakistan People's Party (PPP) announced that it would not become a part of house proceedings if the presence of the ministers was not ensured.
Chairman Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that under the Constitution, the parliament is the origin of powers and a standing committee of this house could suspend, imprison or withhold the salary of any government officer including army officers, judge and bureaucrat for six months.
"The parliament has the power to change the whole Constitution except fundamental structure...it can also summon any army officer, judge and bureaucrat," he remarked. Syed Naveed Qamar of PPP said that the ministers are not giving any importance to the parliament, adding the ministers, parliamentary secretaries and federal secretaries concerned often remain absent from the house. "How long, this house will remain a debating club...the prime minister and his cabinet members should ensure their presence in the house to reply to the questions of the members," he added.
He said that we would not become a part of NA proceedings if the attitude of the government ministers remained this as they do not give any importance to the house. Then the PPP lawmakers left the house in protest against the absence of ministers. They were followed by the members of other opposition political parties, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Mehmood Khan Achakzai of PkMAP.
Sher Akbar Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami also raised the issue of load shedding in his constituency and said 18 to 20 hours load shedding has become a routine matter. He also staged a walkout in protest against the load shedding. Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who was chairing session, asked Sheikh Aftab, state minister for parliamentary affairs bring the protesting members back. Meanwhile, Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar who won bye-election in Multan with the support of PTI against Javed Hashmi pointed out quorum because there were few members in the House.
After making the counting the house was adjourned to meet again at 10:30am on Friday. Earlier, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Sheikh Aftab introduced "The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill, 2015" in the house. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal tabled "The Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill, 2014" in the house but the Speaker referred it to the concerned standing committee for further deliberation and amendments on the objection of opposition.
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