The ruling PML-N faced an awkward moment on Monday. The lower house was adjourned within minutes due to a lack of quorum.
The problem started when the PPP skipped the session. The party stayed away over alleged rigging in the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.
Government fails to gather required numbers
The government could not gather 84 lawmakers in the 336-member house. An opposition member from the PTI pointed out the missing quorum.
The chair then adjourned the session. No agenda item was taken up during the short sitting.
PPP takes a firm stance
PPP’s Sharmila Farooqui reacted quickly on X. She wrote, “No PPP, no quorum, simple.”
Later, she spoke to Dawn about the party’s position. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had already declared that the party would stop helping PML-N.
She said the PPP would not support quorum or legislation for now. This will continue until their concerns over the AJK polls are resolved.
Farooqui added that PPP had completed the quorum in the past. This time, party members left as only 20 to 25 PML-N lawmakers were present.
However, she did not share any specific demand. She only said the strategy would remain unchanged until their grievances were addressed.
How events unfolded in the house
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq opened the Question Hour first. PTI’s Iqbal Afridi then raised the quorum issue.
His move came after the speaker refused him the floor. The speaker ordered a headcount and suspended proceedings.
About 35 minutes later, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah took the chair. He found the house still short of members and adjourned it until Tuesday.
Wider political context
Last week, the PPP had supported the government. It helped pass two security-related bills.
Still, Bhutto-Zardari raised objections during that period. He criticized the way the government handled legislation in front of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
After the AJK dispute, a PPP delegation met opposition leaders. Bhutto-Zardari led the group and sought their support on parliamentary matters.
Update on Hina Javed’s murder
At the start of the sitting, the speaker spoke about a serious matter. He raised concern over the brutal murder of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi.
The case was referred to the relevant house committee. Sadiq said Javed had served in the National Assembly of Pakistan on attachment from December 2019 to June this year.
He noted that such cases usually fall under provincial jurisdiction. Still, this case mattered because she had worked at the NA.
He praised the Women Parliamentary Caucus for taking up the matter. The National Assembly of Pakistan promised full support in monitoring the case.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar shared an update too. He said the ministry stayed in contact with the Rawalpindi police.
Two suspects were on three-day physical remand. Tarar expressed confidence that the culprits would face justice.
The quorum crisis may continue if PPP-PML-N tensions stay unresolved. The next sitting could reveal whether both parties find common ground.
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