ISLAMABAD May 13: The government on Friday faced another embarrassment on account of lack of quorum in the National Assembly as the combined opposition staged a walkout to protest what it termed the “unbecoming” remarks by the chair. Speaking on a point of order, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that some ‘forces’ had become active to destabilize the government.

He confirmed that the Al Qaeda-linked militants held in Multan had disclosed that they were planning to attack an MMA rally and the parliament house.

He said the recently arrested Al Qaeda men had deep roots in the country. He stressed the need of beefing up security of parliament but denied that there was any threat to security by veiled MNAs entry.

Israrul Ibad of MQM had earlier pointed out that the persons nabbed in Multan had disclosed that they wanted to attack the parliament house. He referred to the entry of a veiled woman in the lower house and asked for streamlining the procedure of checking veiled women entering the house.

At the start of the house proceedings, Hafiz Hussain, who is acting parliamentary leader of MMA in the absence of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, objected to putting up of a lengthy agenda, including question hour, when the house had to resume most sensitive debate on the desecration of the Holy Quran.

The chair and parliamentary affairs minister were of the opinion that there was no bar on the inclusion of question hour on a private members’ day.

Syed Khurshid Shah of PPP Parliamentarians suggested that the debate on the desecration of Holy Quran be rescheduled for next Monday in order to dispose of the heavy agenda for the day.

At this point, a treasury MNA from Lahore, Farooq Amjid, staged a protest walkout against what he termed the opposition’s non-seriousness about resuming the postponed debate on the defilement of the Holy Quran.

Clarifying the situation, the NA Speaker said: “It is the opposition which is hindering the way for a debate whereas the government and parliamentary affairs minister wanted it to be resumed.”

This angered the opposition as Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, rising on a point of order, said that had the government been sincere in early conclusion of the debate its members would not have preferred following in the footstep of General Musharraf to Sargodha instead of holding the session on Wednesday.

Syed Khurshid Shah also accused the chair of giving misleading remarks against the opposition.

After showing its anger, the combined opposition staged a walkout from the house but immediately pointed out lack of quorum in the house through PPP Parliamentarians’ Nayyar Bokhari.

The chair ordered a vote count after remarks that whatever he had said about the debate was correct. The government desired that the debate be held whereas “you people are opposed to it”.

After ringing of bells for about ten minutes, the house resumed proceedings as the government managed to bring in treasury members in sufficient numbers to complete the quorum.

The house unanimously decided to postpone the private members’ day agenda until next Wednesday and to start debate on the desecration of the Holy Quran straightaway.

Hafiz Hussain said the incident of Holy Quran’s desecration had a linkage with the American attack on Afghanistan and Iraq. He recalled that “we had warned” the government quite early that after Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran and Pakistan would be the next target of international imperialist forces.

He said that despite American bombing the people of Afghanistan were still alive to safeguard their religion, condemning the foreign occupation of their country and burning US flags.

He asked the house to adopt a unanimous resolution by which not only should “we condemn the US government” but also demand an apology from it for hurting the entire Muslim Ummah’s sentiments.

Sheikh Waqas of the ruling PML from Jhang criticized the past governments which he said had tolerated the desecration of the Holy Quran while their remnants in the house were demanding action against America.

He hit out at those targeting General Musharraf for every ill, including the issue of the desecration of the Holy Quran.

Rubina Kaimkhani of the PPP Parliamentarians said the entire Ummah was in a state of shock over what had happened and was condemning the dastardly act of American soldiers.

Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the MQM asked members to show patience in voicing their indignation and wait for a report to be prepared by the US on the incident.

Sahibzada Fazal Karim of the PML-N said the Holy Quran preached its followers to respect all religions and their holy books.