ISLAMABAD June 12: The National Assembly witnessed an unprecedented uproar on Monday after which the combined opposition staged a walkout and then pointed out lack of quorum to force an adjournment without conclusion of the scheduled business of the day.

It started when the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmakers stood up to object to remarks made by Federal Population Minister Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain against some top leaders of the alliance.

The minister criticised Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the MMA president, and others for their stand against President Musharraf.

The opposition MNAs tried to respond to the minister’s remarks on a point of order but Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain did not allow them to speak.

This infuriated the opposition members, especially those belonging to the MMA, and all of them stood up and demanded of the speaker to allow at least one of them to speak.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed had a verbal brawl with the speaker who did not him and others to speak.

This led to the walkout and when the opposition lawmakers returned, they pointed out that the house lacked quorum.

This angered the speaker who told Hafiz Hussain that the opposition was not doing the right thing by pointing out lack of quorum.

The speaker stuck to his decision not to allow anyone to speak in response to the minister’s remarks and adjourned the house for Tuesday in a state of fury.

Earlier also, anxious moments, verbal clashes and use of harsh language were witnessed in the house during the otherwise dull budget debate which entered fourth day.

PPP legislators had a brief clash with MQM lawmakers as both had furious arguments and counter arguments on the question of subjecting Muttahida supreme leader Altaf Hussain to criticism by the former.

Manzoor Wassan of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, during his budget speech, objected to President Musharraf’s telephone calls to Mr Hussain in London to discuss with him precincts of provincial autonomy.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNAs Israrul Ibad and Kunwar Khalid Yunas defended their leader and criticised Mr Wassan for subjecting Mr Hussain to criticism when he was not present or able to respond.

The minister for parliamentary affairs, quoting article 248 (G) of the rules of business, said that no member could criticise a person who could not defend himself in the house.

Liaqat Baloch of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said that anyone who harmed national interest by his actions could be discussed in the house.