The PTI-led provincial government failed to pass the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prevention of Conflict of Interest Bill, 2016 from the provincial assembly as the longest session of the house prorogued on Monday.
The house resumed proceedings with Deputy Speaker Dr Meher Taj Roghani in the chair and the passage of the piece of legislation was also included in the agenda as an additional item. But due to lack of quorum, it could not be adopted and the proceedings of the house were prorogued for an indefinite period.
The purpose of the bill was to establish conflict of interest and related post employment principles for public officeholders in order to prevent and minimise the possibility of conflicts arising between private interests and public duties of public officeholders and provide for the resolution of those conflicts in the interest of the public should they arise; to establish an independent commission with the mandate to determine the measures necessary to avoid conflict of interest and to determine whether a contravention of this Act has occurred; to encourage experienced and competent persons to seek and accept public office and to facilitate interchange between the private and the public sectors.
Soon after the recitation from the Holy Quran, a woman legislator of JUI-F Uzma Khan and PPP’s Sardar Hussain pointed out the lack of quorum in the house. Deputy Speaker found only 26 members in the house.
The lack of quorum prompted the deputy speaker to issue directives for the ringing of the bells for two minutes. However, the house still remained in disorder and she had to adjourn the proceedings for 15 minutes.
Though the house resumed proceedings, it still lacked quorum, leaving the deputy speaker with no other choice but to read the prorogation order of the house received from the Governor House to prorogue the proceedings for an indefinite period.