QUETTA, Aug 13: The opposition in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday strongly protested over the adjournment of a session owing to lack of quorum, claiming that the treasury bench members had intentionally avoided the proceedings in order to sabotage the resolution filed against the promulgation of an ordinance by the governor.

Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani chaired the session.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Abdur Rehman Jamali on a point of order had pointed out the lack of quorum and the chair asked the secretary to ring the quorum bells for five minutes. However, when the required number of members did not turn up, the session was prorogued sine die. A total of 12 members were present whereas 17 members were required for quorum.

The adjournment of the session provoked the opposition, with opposition leader Kachkol Baloch and PMAP member Sardar Azam Musakhel simultaneously starting hard-hitting speeches against the government.

They said the minister for law and parliamentary affairs during the proceedings on Aug 11 had agreed to turn the adjournment motion of Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal into a joint resolution of the treasury and opposition members, demanding of the government to annul the ordinance pertaining to the Balochistan University so as to restore the 1996 Act of the University.

Opposition members said the ordinance had caused resentment among the teaching community of the Balochistan University and the Academic Staff Association of the university had launched a protest campaign against the ordinance.

They asserted that the treasury bench members were asked by “invisible forces” not to attend the session as Monday was the last session of the present proceedings. The chair said that he could not violate the rules of the assembly.