Limited number of seats available on each side of the aisle in the National Assembly (NA) against 237 treasury MPs is causing delay in allocation of seats to the PML-Q members with NA Speaker Fehmida Mirza wanting to take Leader of the Opposition in the NA Nisar Ali Khan on board before taking a final decision in this regard.
A source in the NA told Pakistan Today on Friday that there were around 200 seats available on each side of the aisle but the strength of treasury members was around 237. Under the circumstances, he added, the PML-Q members who recently joined the government would have to be adjusted on the behind the opposition benches. “The PML-Q ministers will be allocated seats in the ministers’ block.
Some will be allocated seats on the treasury benches while the remaining will have to sit on benches behind the opposition side. He said the speaker would follow the analogy of 2008 when the PML-Q was in the opposition and the PML-N was part of the treasury.
Despite being part of the treasury, the PML-N members were adjusted on the opposition benches due to shortage of seats on the treasury side, he added.
