PML-N Faces National Assembly Setback as PPP Boycott Breaks Quorum

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) suffered a setback in the National Assembly on Monday after the house was adjourned for lack of quorum when its estranged coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stayed away from the proceedings.

The National Assembly quorum fell short of the required 84 members in the 336-seat house. The situation forced the chair to suspend proceedings before lawmakers could take up any item on the agenda.

The development came amid growing differences between the PML-N and PPP over allegations of rigging and mismanagement in the recently held Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.

PPP Withdraws Quorum Support

PPP leader Sharmila Farooqui said the party would no longer help the government maintain quorum in parliament.

“No PPP, no quorum, simple,” Farooqui posted on social media shortly after the sitting was adjourned.

She later said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had already announced that the party would stop cooperating with the PML-N on quorum and legislation until its concerns over the AJK elections received attention.

Farooqui said PPP lawmakers had previously helped the government complete the quorum. However, the party now intends to maintain its position until the dispute is addressed.

She did not specify what measures the PPP wants the government to take to resolve its concerns.

PTI Points Out Lack of Quorum

The session began with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announcing the Question Hour. PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi then pointed out that the house lacked quorum after the speaker declined to give him the floor on a point of order.

The speaker ordered a headcount and suspended proceedings.

Around 35 minutes later, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah took the chair. The house still did not have enough members to proceed, prompting him to adjourn the sitting until Tuesday.

Farooqui said only around 20 to 25 PML-N members remained on the treasury benches after the proceedings began. She said even some PML-N lawmakers who had initially attended the Question Hour left after seeing the low attendance.

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PML-N-PPP Differences Deepen

The PPP’s decision follows growing tensions with the PML-N over the AJK elections.

The two parties had recently worked together on the passage of two security-related bills. However, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari later criticised the government’s approach to legislation in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Following the dispute over the AJK elections, a PPP delegation led by Bilawal also met opposition leaders. The party sought their cooperation on legislation in parliament and its committees.

The latest quorum crisis could make it more difficult for the government to advance legislation without broader support from its coalition partners.

National Assembly Raises Hina Javed Murder

At the beginning of the sitting, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also expressed concern over the murder of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi.

He referred the case to the relevant National Assembly committee and said the killing was particularly concerning because Javed had previously served at the National Assembly.

According to Sadiq, Javed worked at the National Assembly on attachment from the National IT Board from December 2019 until June this year before returning to her parent department.

He said violence against women and the circumstances surrounding her murder required serious attention.

The speaker praised the Women Parliamentary Caucus for taking up the matter and assured the body of the National Assembly’s support in monitoring the investigation.

Law and Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said his ministry remained in contact with Rawalpindi police over the investigation.

He said two suspects had received three-day physical remand and expressed confidence that investigators would bring those responsible to justice.