The House was called to order by the chair at 11.25am after a lapse of 85 minutes from its scheduled time of 10 am. Soon after recitation from the Holy Quran, the Mines and Mineral Minister, Irfanullah Marwat, stood up to move a motion for suspension of Question Hour and other business, listed for the day, to take up legislative business.
His motion was opposed by opposition’s Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Munawwar Ali Abbasi, Ms Humera Alwani, Murad Ali Shah and Nisar Khuhro. They were of the view that the treasury benches were running away from the business, and by taking an advantage of their majority, they get the rules relaxed to take up business at their own choice.
They said it appeared that by getting the rules relaxed, the treasury benches want to avoid the question hour so as to protect the ministers.
They said when the order of the day was prepared with the consultation of the law minister, why the treasury benches were in a hurry to suspend the business on the agenda. This was an insult of the speaker as well, they said and asked the speaker to get his decision respected.
Besides, they said the privileged and adjournment motions, which also form an important part of the House business, were also not being taken up.
Replying to the points raised by the opposition members, Mr Marwat said the treasury benches were not running away from question hour, but as the home minister was not present, they were seeking its postponement till Tuesday. “We are not bypassing the rules, but seeking relaxation under the rules.”
After hearing both sides, when the motion by Mr Marwat was put to the House by the Speaker, it was carried with a majority of voice votes.
Leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro was heard protesting over the attitude of the Speaker for not exercising his authority under Rule 211.
Soon after this, former minister Imtiaz Shaikh from the treasury benches and Mukesh Kumar from the opposition stood up at the same time to speak on a point of order. The Speaker recognised Imtiaz Shaikh and asked Mukesh Kumar to get his seat and raise his point of order after Imtiaz Shaikh.
However, Mr Kumar despite repeated orders, he flouted the Speaker’s command.
On this, half-a-dozen members, including, got up and tried to convince the chair to give floor to Mukesh Kumar.
Addressing the leader of the opposition, the Speaker said: “You are running an assembly within the assembly? Why you are advocating a member.”
“I will hear him after Imtiaz Shaikh,” the Speaker said, and again asked the standing members to maintain order. But Mukesh Kumar insisted to be heard first. He was again followed by some other members of the opposition who started speaking in support of their colleague.
Despite repeated orders when the opposition members refused to sit down, the speaker gave a warning that if they would not listen to him, he would adjourn the session for Tuesday.
He said when he asked any member to sit down and that he would be given an opportunity to speak, he ought to sit-down. He had recognised Imtiaz Shaikh, let him speak first. But failing to restore order in the House, the Speaker said he could not listen four to five members at the same time and adjourned the sitting at 11.55 am till Tuesday at 10 am.