ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday chaired a meeting to discuss quorum problem in the National Assembly after the government failed to move two Hudood laws in the house on Friday.

A source said various measures were discussed to ensure the presence of members belonging to the ruling PML and allied parties on Monday to avoid any further embarrassment to the government.

The meeting was attended by PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Information and Broadcasting Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Senator Tariq Azim and ruling PML’s chief whip in the National Assembly Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dareshak.

The source denied that the ruling party members had deliberately stayed away from the proceedings on Friday as they had some reservations against the bill. “There was too much (going on) which led to lack of quorum on Friday”, he said. He pointed out that President Pervez Musharraf had inaugurated the National Public Safety Commission which was attended by a number of parliamentarians, some members were attending a seminar at the National Defence College while some were attending other meetings.

He stressed that Friday happened to be a lean day and many members remained in their respective constituencies.

The source ruled out the possibility of lack of quorum on Monday. He said the presence of 86 members was required to move the bill. “I do not foresee any problem”, he said.

According to a press release, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that the Women Protection Bill would be in accordance with the injunctions of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and would be a symbol of women empowerment. The prime minister said: “In the light of our traditions and faith the government will take all steps to give women their due place in society,” he said. He said that Pakistan was proud to have the highest number of women parliamentarians in the world. He said that because of measures taken by the government, women were occupying several important positions in the government today.

He urged the opposition to refrain from using the proposed legislation to gain political mileage and said everyone should make efforts to empower women and accord them the status they deserve according to Islam.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that the PML would fully support all such initiatives which were in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah, adding that steps taken by the present government were far reaching and would go a long way in promoting the status of women in Pakistan.