22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: Deputy Chairman Senate Khalilur Rehman on Wednesday expressed concern over the absence of ministers from the house after members of opposition drew his attention towards the problem , saying he would inform Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali about the matter.

Members of opposition had drawn his attention towards the row of empty chairs of ministers, many of whom who had business on the agenda. Before the start of question-hour, the deputy chairman informed the house that a number of ministers had requested to defer their questions as they would not be able to attend the session on Wednesday.

PPP's parliamentary leader Raza Rabbani criticized the government, saying it seemed it wanted to run the senate "in this way". "Our understanding was that the house would be prorogued on Jan 23, and the questions, which have been deferred today, would go unanswered merely because ministers did not want to participate in the house proceedings." he added.

Reminding Senate members about the previous day's proceedings, he said a number of private members' bills had also been deferred because of the ministers' absence. "Something serious has to be done," said the deputy chairman, while gazing towards the leader of the house, Wasim Sajjad.