PESHAWAR, Dec 3: The scheduled discussion on the law and order situation could not take place at the city district council session on Wednesday for lack of quorum, leading the acting convener to adjourn the session till Thursday.

The newly-formed pressure group in the council alleged that it was a pre-planned move by District Nazim Azam Afridi to avoid discussion on prevailing lawlessness in the district.

After recitation from the holy Quran, Union Council Nazim Ibadatullah Khan on a point of order drew the attention of acting convener Fazl Rauf to the quorum issue.

He argued that under section 10 of the Local Council Conduct of Meeting Bye-Laws, 2001, the council required 62 out of the total 124 members to make a quorum. He pointed out that only 38 members were present in the house.

The acting convener delayed the proceedings till noon to complete the quorum, but members of the pressure group, led by Arbab Tariq, insisted that the proceedings should be carried on.

They argued that council’s proceedings had never been adjourned for lack of quorum during the past two and a half years. Even the budget was passed by the council without caring for the quorum, they said.

The acting convener said proceedings were scheduled to start at 9.30am, but till noon only 39 members were present in the house.

Later, the deputy leader of the pressure group, advocate Anwarul Hassan told a press conference that the council was scheduled to hold a debate on the law and order situation. The district Nazim, he said, could not face such a situation, so the quorum issue was raised to avoid the debate.

Mr Hassan said the cases of robbery, kidnapping, car lifting and murder had become the order of the day and people felt insecurity.

Denying the allegations, the district Nazim told newsmen separately that it was not his responsibility to ensure the quorum.

He said the so-called pressure group had requisitioned the session and it was their moral responsibility to ensure the presence of the required number of councillors in the house.