April 2, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 29, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, April 1: The joint opposition in the Senate staged a token walkout on Tuesday against rejection of their motions by the chairman in his chamber.

The walkout was staged for three minutes against the rejection of the opposition’s privilege and adjournment motions.

At the outset of the day’s proceedings, Prof Khurshid Ahmad of the Jamaat-i-Islami on a point of order drew attention to the rejection of his privilege motion against the statement of Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro in favour of the Legal Framework Order (LFO).

Prof Khurshid said that the chairman was the custodian of the entire house and did not represent any party. Therefore, he should treat all members of the house equally and without discrimination.

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani pointed out that two adjournment motions moved by the opposition against the increase in the prices of petroleum products and breach of provincial autonomy through governor’s interference in the affairs of the Sindh government had also been rejected by the chairman in chamber.

Mr Soomro said he would run the house objectively and every member would get justice. The opposition left the house in protest.

Nisar Memon from the ruling party regretted that the opposition had forgotten parliamentary traditions as they were boycotting proceedings when they themselves had requisitioned the session and it was decided earlier that only the issue of Iraq would be debated and no other business would be transacted.