ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Opposition members on Tuesday staged a walkout and boycotted the National Assembly proceedings after Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain did not allow them to speak on the issue of alleged rigging and manipulation by the government of the third phase of local body elections.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was in his chamber, rushed to the assembly hall as soon as People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur pointed out the quorum after his colleagues on the opposition benches had staged a walkout.
The speaker declared the house in order but Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) MNA Khawaja Mohammad Asif came in and challenged his ruling, asking him to order another headcount. The speaker again ordered a headcount and declared that 90 members were present in the house and, therefore, the quorum was complete.
Mr Asif alleged that wrong counting had been conducted to save the government from embarrassment.
The opposition members staged the walkout when the speaker did not allow Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan to speak on the local government elections. The speaker switched off the mike of Mr Khan, triggering a strong protest by the opposition members.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal regretted that parliament had become redundant as major decisions were being made somewhere else. He said there was no use of taking part in any debate in parliament as it had no effect on policy-making. “What is the outcome of the recently-held parliamentary debate on the issue of rigging in the first two phases of the local polls as the government has started using the same tactics for the ongoing third phase,” he asked.
Dr Piracha said the elections had exposed the “powerlessness” of the Election Commission and the judiciary.
Liaquat Baloch of the MMA said the government had no regard for election rules and was constantly violating the code of conduct. “The resignation of a Punjab minister has also exposed the government’s rigging in the polls,” Mr Baloch said, referring to the resignation of provincial Sports Minister Naeem Shahani.
Mr Baloch also criticized the government for an unnecessary delay in the election of the deputy chairman of the Senate. He claimed that the government was unable to get a deputy chairman elected because of internal differences. He said the government was violating the constitution by not holding the election.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan rejected Mr Baloch’s charges and said no time limit had been given in the constitution for holding the election.
A bill of treasury MNA Mehnaz Rafi, seeking establishment of the office of ‘wafaqi woman mohtasib’ was rejected through a voice vote.
The speaker referred the Prohibition of Marriages with the Holy Quran Bill 2005, moved jointly by Ms Rafi and M.P. Bhandara, to the standing committee concerned.
The speaker adjourned the session till Friday without taking up over 100 other items on the agenda.
