ISLAMABAD: The government made it clear in the National Assembly on Wednesday that a bill seeking parliamentary approval for the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance of former president Pervez Musharraf now stood formally withdrawn after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the house on Tuesday that it would not be moved for approval.

PML-N member Ahsan Iqbal had sought a clarification on whether a mere speech by the prime minister had removed the ordinance from the assembly’s legislative agenda, because it had become a bill and property of the house after being tabled last month.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Babar Awan quoted an article of the Constitution about collective responsibility of the cabinet and the house rules of procedure requiring the consent of the speaker for the withdrawal of a bill and said Mr Gilani’s announcement on Tuesday had fulfilled the withdrawal requirement.

‘This has been done through the prime minister’s speech and the bill stands withdrawn,’ he said amid cheers from the opposition which had agitated against earlier government plans to seek approval of the Oct 5, 2007, ordinance. ‘No further motion is required,’ the minister added.

The house earlier admitted a motion moved by Mr Awan seeking a debate on the law and order situation in the country.

PML-N chief whip Sheikh Aftab Ahmed later said it had been agreed with the parliamentary affairs minister to hold the debate on Thursday, though there was no formal announcement by Speaker Fehmida Mirza. — Raja Asghar