PESHAWAR, Feb 20: A lawmaker of the ruling Pakistan People's Party threatened here on Monday to resign from the provincial assembly if gynaecologist and medical superintendent of Women and Children Hospital in Haripur were not transferred within three days.

"Two days ago, a woman and her child died owing to ineptness of doctors and administration of the hospital," she alleged. She also showed press cuttings to the chair about the death of woman and her newborn child in the hospital.

Minister for Law Barrister Arshad Abdullah requested the MPA to withdraw her warning of resignation, saying an inquiry was already launched to probe the incident. He said that disciplinary action would be taken against the doctors if they found guilty.

However, Ms Faiza was consistently demanding punishment for the doctors. "Being a doctor and woman, I know the ordeal through which a mother goes while giving birth to a baby," she said.

She said that she had raised the issue of irresponsible attitude of doctors of the said hospital on the floor through a privilege motion some time ago but to no avail.

"If no one listens to our demand then there is no justification for me to remain a member of this august house," Ms Faiza said.

Minister for Livestock Hidayatullah Khan told the house that his department was helpless to stop smuggling of cattle to Afghanistan.

Replying to the question of Mufti Kifayatullah of JUI-F, he said that permits for supply of cattle were issued by the federal government through political agent of the tribal agency concerned.

Several MPAs criticised the government for remaining silent over the smuggling of cattle to Afghanistan.

Speaking on a call attention notice, PML-N member Barrister Javed Abbasi said that schools, roads and basic health units destroyed in the devastating earthquake in 2005 were yet to be reconstructed in parts of Hazara division.

Debate on the controversial resolution in the US House of Representatives was deferred after speaker adjourned the proceedings owing to lack of quorum.

Only 17 members were present after tea break and Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagharmatti ordered to ring bells for two minutes. Only six members of the ruling parties were present in the house.

Despite ringing bells quorum remained incomplete and chair adjourned proceedings till 4.30pm Wednesday.

MPA Israrullah Khan Gandapur pointed out lack of quorum.

The lawmakers of PML-N and JUI-F have tabled joint adjournment motions to hold discussion over the controversial resolution introduced by three American lawmakers in the House of Representatives seeking right of self determination for Balochistan.

The adjournment motions were introduced in the house before tea break and Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour assured the movers that treasury benches would support the motion and would pass unanimous resolution.

However, despite verbal agreement with the opposition ministers and lawmakers of the ruling PPP and ANP did not come back to the house after the break.

A lawmaker of the ruling party said that aggressive campaign for the upcoming Senate elections was the main reason for the lack of quorum.

Some independent members also criticised government for not taking the assembly business seriously.

MPA Javed Tarakai said that taxpayers' money was wasted on holding the assembly session, but treasury members did not take interest in the proceedings.