ISLAMABAD — The federal capital witnessed another day of parliamentary gridlock on Tuesday as the National Assembly session was abruptly adjourned without transacting any official legislative business due to a persistent lack of quorum. The breakdown in proceedings triggered sharp criticism from within the ruling coalition itself, exposing deep internal frustrations over empty treasury benches. Despite a heavy legislative agenda, the brief sitting collapsed minutes after it commenced, highlighting a recurring pattern of absenteeism that continues to stall important governance matters. With the opposition mounting legislative pressure and lawmakers increasingly pointing out the empty seats, parliamentary observers note that the ongoing inertia is taking a massive toll on both democratic productivity and public funds.
Key Highlights
- The National Assembly session was adjourned without executing any business due to lack of quorum.
- Opposition MNA Iqbal Afridi pointed out the empty seats immediately following the national anthem.
- Legislative rules require a minimum of 84 members present to complete the parliamentary quorum.
- An assembly official stated that each failed sitting costs the national exchequer Rs24 million.
- Treasury benches faced intense backlash from ally PPP over high rates of lawmaker absenteeism.
Taxpayer Funds Wasted as Legislative Backlog Mounts
The latest disruption marks a troubling trend for the current assembly session, which has seen its proceedings repeatedly suspended or adjourned for want of quorum since it began on May 11. On Tuesday, the House was scheduled to handle Private Members’ Day, with at least 20 vital private member bills on the agenda. However, none of these legislative drafts could be taken up. Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, who chaired the session, initially rang the bells and suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes. When the House reassembled after a half-hour delay, the required strength of 84 lawmakers in the 336-member house was still not met, forcing the chair to adjourn the sitting until Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the brief sitting drew fierce criticism from treasury ally Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with MNA Sharmila Farooqi taking to social media to express her deep frustration over the vacant seats. Sharing a photograph of the empty hall, she noted that completing the quorum was not the sole responsibility of coalition allies when nearly 95 percent of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers were absent. This internal friction comes at a time when the opposition, led by Mehmood Khan Achakzai, has threatened to continue disrupting parliamentary functions unless specific demands regarding high-profile political meetings and medical access are met. As lawmakers continue to sign attendance registers only to depart for private engagements, the nation watches a functioning parliament struggle to maintain baseline seriousness.
