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National Assembly. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD:
The government’s attempt to send the FC restructuring amendment bill through a supplementary agenda failed in the National Assembly on Thursday after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout, breaking the quorum.
The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, began with Question Time when opposition member Iqbal Afridi pointed out the lack of quorum. A count confirmed that the quorum was incomplete, prompting the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the meeting.
When the session resumed after a short break, Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry introduced the Pakistan Airports Authority (Amendment) and Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Bills. The House passed the Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by a majority.
Parliamentary Secretary Farah Akbar introduced the National Heritage and Culture Bill 2025, which was also passed after amendments proposed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) lawmakers were rejected.
The government later tried to introduce the FC Restructuring Amendment 2026 through the supplementary agenda. But opposition members gathered around the Speaker’s podium and demanded a quorum count.
At first the chairman continued the negotiations and began to present the bill’s clauses for approval, with two or three clauses being adopted. However, the opposition pushed for a count. When the counting was conducted, the quorum was found incomplete as MQM members staged a walkout.
Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry tried to persuade MQM members to return to the House, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The session was later adjourned indefinitely, preventing passage of the FC amendment.
The MQM protested the Sindh governor’s sudden change. MQM lawmaker Aminul Haque later said the party staged the dismissal because the government had not taken it into confidence, adding that the party could leave the government.
