LAHORE, June 19: The PML-N-led coalition on Thursday faced quorum embarrassment on the first day of the general discussion on budget.

Interestingly, it was treasury member Rana Kashif who pointed out a lack of quorum which, until then, was ignored by Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood. An irritated Rana Kashif said: “Members should take the proceedings seriously. Even important discussion like the one on budget has failed to attract their attention which is unfortunate.”

The deputy speaker ignored the ‘quorum call’ by the treasury member, but the secretary assembly reminded that no business could be carried forward when quorum issue had been raised. This left Rana Mashhood, who was deputising for Rana Iqbal, with no option but to order a head count which fell short of the requirement.

He ordered the ringing of bells for five minutes, but all efforts to bring the members back to the house failed.

According to a party member, “the problem doesn’t lie within the house, but outside factors affect the assembly quorum.” He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who was due to leave for Bahawalpur, got his plan delayed because of weather. As long as he was in Lahore, the PML-N members remained in the house because the CM had the habit of coming to the house unannounced.

But once his plane left the Lahore airport, he said, the treasury members left the house.

During Shahbaz Sharif’s presence, even if MPAs leave the house, they remain within the building or at cafeteria. But on Thursday, they left the building. That is why the treasury people could not find them even after five minutes of ringing of bells.