Opposition parties in the National Assembly Thursday strongly protested and staged a walkout over the absence of ministers in the House and federal secretaries in the lobbies during the session.
PPPs Syed Naveed Qamar and PKMAP’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai drew the attention of the deputy speaker towards the absence of ministers and federal secretaries in the House, saying it showed the lack of seriousness of the government towards the business in the House.
Qamar asked other opposition parties to join them in the walkout which was accepted by MQM, PTI, PKMAP and FATA members. In the meantime JI’s Sher Akbar protested over load shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also staged the walkout.
The deputy speaker asked Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt General Abdul Qadir Baloch and other treasury benches members to persuade the opposition to return to the House but the efforts went in vain.
Independent member from Multan Aamir Dogar pointed out lack of quorum and after counting, the deputy speaker adjourned the sitting for Friday.
Earlier on a point of order, PPP’s Nawab Yusuf Talpur said that with the beginning of summer, water shortage has started emerging in Sindh. He said the release of water in Thal Canal is causing problems in supply of water to Sindh. He demanded closure of Thal canal by pointing out that it was constructed for release of water in case of floods.