Lack of quorum: Balochistan Assembly session lasts for four minutes!

05 Dec, 2010

Balochistan Assembly session on Saturday lasted only for four minutes, soon after the recitation of Holy Qur'an, as a lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum and the chair adjourned the sitting for next date. The provincial assembly session started with Deputy Speaker, Syed Matiullah Agha in the chair at 11:08 am. After recitation of the Holy Qur'an, he asked to start question hour.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) of Like-Minded Group, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani had pointed out there are only four legislators, including two ministers and two MPAs in the house and there is lack of quorum. Resultantly, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the session, at 11:12am, till 7th December, Tuesday 11am.
Only four lawmakers namely Minister for Irrigation, Sardar Aslam Bezinjo, Minister for Health, Aainullah Shams and two MPAs of the Like-Minded Group, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani and Mir Tariq Hussain Masori Bugti were present in the house. According to the agenda, the house had to debate on an adjournment motion moved against the attack on Governor Balochistan, Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi's convoy in Mangochar, which caused injuring to a security personnel and damaged two vehicles.
Later, talking to APP at the speaker chamber, Shoaib Nosherwani alleged that lawmakers of Balochistan Assembly are not serious to attend the assembly proceedings timely and regularly. He said on Saturday, debate had to be made on the attack on governor's convoy, and deteriorating law and order situation and unrest prevailing in the province. He lamented that the assembly proceedings had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum.
The MPA noted that Balochistan is passing through critical circumstances as, what he called, Punjabi settlers, local Baloch and Pashtoon and Sindhi persons are being slaughtered in target killing incidents. He further continuous incidents of kidnapping for ransom have increased sense of insecurity amongst the people of Balochistan and consequently, a large number of people, including local Baloch, have been forced to flee to other provinces. To a question, he said most of lawmakers of the provincial assembly are provincial ministers but the assembly proceedings have been adjourned several times due to lack of quorum.

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