Days after President General Pervez Musharraf took coalition members into confidence to amend controversial Hudood laws, the opposition on Friday tactfully blocked introduction of a bill in the National Assembly designed for the protection of women, exposing widening differences within the government on the issue.
The government could not bring even minimum number of members to complete the quorum that caused suspension of proceedings for more than an hour and half, creating embarrassment for the speaker, who adjourned the session till Monday.
The government's defeat has not only exposed differences in the ruling league over the much-debated law but it has also strengthen opposition parties, which are going to challenge Shaukat Aziz's premiership next week.
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians, considered to be a progressive party for ending such controversial laws, in a rare show of unity joined hands with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and walked out of the house.
President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday chaired a grand meeting of the ruling coalition members and had directed the law ministry to redraft the proposed amendments to the Hudood laws by incorporating certain changes. It was then decided to table redrafted amendments during the current National Assembly session and the ruling party was asked to support it.
The government in this regard managed to put the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Women) bill, 2006 on the agenda. However, it faced embarrassment due to thin presence of treasury members.
Unlike the past, speaker Amir Hussain allowed members from both the sides of the aisle to speak on point of orders before the start of question hour only to consume more time so the government does complete required number of lawmakers for introduction of the bill. Opposition parties were well aware of the fact and their members started leaving the chamber during the question hour.
It was Qari Gul Rehman of the religio-political alliance, who pointed lack of quorum and speaker Amir Hussain ordered for the count. There were not more than 50 treasury members in the house at that time, leaving no other option for the speaker but to suspend proceedings.
Chief whip Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak kept hovering around the lower house but he miserably failed to catch some more treasury members to complete the quorum. After more than an hour and half, speaker Amir Hussain reappeared in the house and adjourned the session till Monday.
In the meantime, MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed told newsmen the opposition would foil government's attempt to amend Hudood laws. He said there was a great unity among opposition parties, including Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians, who will stay away from the legislative process.
He said it was a show of harmony by the opposition, which is going to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz next week. Hafiz went on saying that the government has lost the support of at least 50 to 60 treasury members, who will support opposition's no-trust move. Replying to a query, he said Aitzaz Ahsan and Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada were finalising the draft of the motion.
Talking to media, information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani criticised opposition parties and said the government alone was not responsible for the legislation.
"Gone are the days when governments used to bulldoze proceedings and rushed bills through the parliament," he said and added the government would once again table the said bill on Monday.
Parliamentary affairs minister Sher Afgan Niazi was surprised over the attitude of the PPPP and said parliamentary meeting of the ruling coalition would be convened on Monday and it would be made sure that maximum treasury members attend the session.
He was of the view few members usually turn up on Friday and that was the reason behind government's failure to introduce the bill. He said other important report of the mediation committee regarding The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2005 would also be tabled in the house.