ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The opposition in the Senate on Monday asked Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to pass strictures against the ministers who were absent from the House proceedings despite having business on the agenda.

PPP Parliamentary leader Raza Rabbani said such an attitude of the ministers damaged the dignity and honour of the House. "It is unfortunate that member who are helping the government through private member bills are being deferred because of ministers' absence," Mr Rabbani said. This was being done despite the fact that government's performance was very poor in this front as it failed to pass any bill from the two houses except the 17th constitutional amendment bill and the finance bill during the last one year, he added.

Due to the absence of ministers, only one motion on PTV's performance could take place during Monday's proceedings, while six items were introduced by the opposition members and 20 deferred.

Important bills like Farhatullah Babar's bill seeking amendment to the Pakistan Army Act 1992 and Raza Rabbani's bill regarding amendment to the banking companies ordinance was also deferred. However, Mr Rabbani managed to introduce his motion against the ban on trade unions in the country. Mr Soomro also asked the leader of the house in the Senate Wasim Sajjad to look into the affairs and convey the feelings of the members to the ministers concerned.

Raza Rabbani asked Wasim Sajjad to ensure that issues relating to foreign policy, policy on Kashmir, Saarc, Prime Minister Vajpayee's meeting with President Musharraf were brought before the floor of the house for discussion.

He alleged that the house was fast becoming a rubber stamp because the business of the house was not being strictly implemented. Wasim Sajjad, however, suggested that the members should move these issues through adjournment motions or through other motions.

Earlier, Sardar Latif Khosa of the PPP also expressed apprehensions that the government was reducing the strength of the Supreme Court from 17 judges to 11.