ISLAMABAD: In what seems to have become a routine practice, some ministers were again conspicuous by their absence during Question Hour in the ongoing National Assembly session.

In the wake of opposition’s protest on the non-availability of relevant ministers, Speaker Chaudary Amir Hussain directed the Minister for Parliamentary Affiars, Dr. Sher Afgan to ask the prime minister to ensure that ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries are present during the Question Hour. The speaker had to ask members repeatedly to give fresh notice for a question as the replies from the government were not satisfactory or the relevant minister was absent.

The Minister of State for Finance, Omar Ayub Khan, was cornered by Opposition when he refused to respond to a specific question about Thal Canal Project as it ‘did not concern his ministry’, despite his earlier assertion that the principle of ‘collective cabinet responsibility’ allowed ministers to answer questions on behalf of their cabinet colleagues.

Parade rehearsal blocks MNAs on way to assembly session

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly session had to be adjourned on March 15 as a majority members failed to make it to the Parliament House due to road blockades in connection with Pakistan Day parade rehearsal.

Next day, opposition and treasury members joined hands to table a motion on breach of their privilege at the hands of security agencies, which had blocked their way and forced the adjournment of assembly proceedings. The motion was sent to the Priviliges Committee.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi was the only member from the treasury benches to oppose the motion.

Parliamentarians call for provincial autonomy

ISLAMABAD: A number of parliamentarians have called upon the government to grant complete provincial autonomy to Balochistan including the right to manage natural resources. They have also demanded a revision of the formula for inter-provincial resource distribution to take poverty levels into account in addition to a province’s population.>>