December 31, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 26, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The very first session of the National Assembly, convened to repose confidence in Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, after day-long proceedings, prorogued sine die for want of quorum on Monday.

“It is a reflection of lack of interest on the part of the treasury benches,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi, MNA of People’s Party Parliamentarians, later told reporters.

Mr Qureshi termed the prorogation of the house due to lack of quorum a “bad omen” for parliament and democratic process restored after three years of military rule.

Expressing surprise over the fact that the quorum was pointed out by a woman member of the ruling party, he said it showed lack of cohesion among the ruling coalition.

It proved that the ruling coalition was a bunch of direction-less individuals who have no policy and no coordination, he added.

Earlier, when the house assembled after the Mughrib prayers, only 77 members, nine short of the required number, were present.

Presiding officer, Malik Allah Yar, was in the chair when a woman member, followed by Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, pointed out the lack of quorum and asked the chair to conduct a head count.

The chair, after conducting a head count, asked for ringing of the bells for five minutes. However, the members did not turn up and the house was prorogued sine die.