NA Adjourned Due To Lack Of Quorum

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Nov, 2016 ) : The National Assembly was adjourned on Monday due to lack of quorum as the opposition had walked out of the House. Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid moved the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Bill, 2016 in the House.

The House discussed the bill clause by clause, during which the opposition was voted out. However, during the final voting of the bill, Pakistan People Party (PPP) lawmaker Shagufta Jamani pointed the quorum.

Count was made but the House was not in order resulting in adjournment of the session to meet again on Tuesday at 10.30 am. Earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers including S A Iqbal Qadri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Muzammil Qureshi, Sheikh Salahu din and others proposed certain amendments to the bill.

However, all amendments were rejected with majority votes. S A Iqbal, while opposing the bill, said the House had no power to legislate in such matter under Article 142 of the Constitution. It also did not come under the jurisdiction of this august house after 18th Amendment, he added.

Sher Akbar of Jamaat-i-Islami said the Panama papers case was pending before the Supreme Court, which could be influenced by the bill. Opposing the bill, PPP parliamentary leader Syed Naveed said the government should incorporate the viewpoint of the opposition.

Dr Nafeesa Shah of PPP said the treasury benches should negotiate with the opposition over the proposed bill. Ejaz Jakarani of PPP said the government should pass the opposition's bill tabled in the Senate.

Responding to the points raised by the opposition, the Law Minister said the bill was aimed at providing greater powers to the commission. Additional powers for the commission were incorporated under section 10 of the bill, he added.

He said the opposition bill was only Panama Papers specific. The Prime Minister had presented himself for accountability despite the fact his name was not included in the Panama Papers, he added.