Perhaps for the first time, partial proceedings of the Senate on Monday might be declared void after the government failed to justify why the chairman presided over the House business after President Musharraf's departure to Turkey.
Combined opposition left Senate acting Chairman Khalilur Rehman with no other option, but to keep the ruling on the matter pending till the next sitting on Friday after seeking clarification from the acting president.
However, with annoyance visible on his face, the chair described the lapse as "gross incompetence" and even added this reflected "mala fide intentions" of the people at the helm of affairs.
Under Article 49 (2) of the Constitution, in the absence of president, the Senate chairman and in his absence the National Assembly speaker takes oath as acting president.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani on a point of order drew the attention of the House towards this lapse, demanding the acting chairman to declare the proceedings void, as instead of becoming acting president after Musharraf' departure, Mohammedmian Soomro, continued to preside over the session till the adjournment.
Rabbani said that since a constitutional requirement was not fulfilled, the proceedings, which the Senate chairman presided over after Musharraf had flown out of the country, should be declared void.
He said, "It appears, the government is determined not to follow the Constitution, rules and parliamentary traditions and the same was manifested on January 19 after General Musharraf left the country."
Leader of the House Senator Wasim Sajjad, who himself had been the Senate chairman twice said that it was a very serious situation. The Senate Secretariat had not informed the chairman in time at what time President Musharraf would leave. They should have shown more seriousness, he added.
Another PPPP Senator Safdar Abbasi said that from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm on Monday, it was complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery, as no one knew whether or not there was any president.
Former law minister Khalid Ranjha tried to move a resolution, seeking to get the Monday's proceedings ratified, but the chair asked him to sit down.