PESHAWAR, Oct 11: The Awami National Party-led coalition government on Monday faced embarrassment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly owing to lack of quorum and Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chaghermati adjourned the proceedings till Thursday next.

After recitation of the Holy Quran, Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao parliamentary leader Sikandar Khan Sherpao drew the attention of the chair towards lack of quorum and said that proceedings could not be continued under the rules.

The house started proceedings at 10:55am, well 55 minutes late its scheduled time, because of engagements of the speaker and members. Despite that only 23 members were present in the house.

Speaker Chaghermati directed the secretary to count members. At that time only 23 out of total 124 members were present in the hall. After the count was completed, the chair asked to ring the bells for two minutes to complete the quorum, despite that required number of members could not reach the hall. Under the rules 31 members are required to be present in the house.

“This is very embarrassing. Both treasury and opposition benches don't take the assembly business seriously,” Mr Chaghermati grumbled, stating that absence of ministers and members had become a regular feature. He directed Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and parliamentary leaders to ensure presence of members.

“The house is adjourned till Oct 14,” he ruled and then invited parliamentary leaders of all parties to his chamber to work out a solution. Only three ministers including Mr Bilour, Law Minister Arshad Abdullah and Environment Minister Wajid Ali Khan were present in the house.

Agenda for the day was questions related to finance, higher education and industry departments, privilege motions, adjournment motions, call attention notices and bill related Chashma Right Bank Canal (Lift-Cum Gravity) Project (Control and Prevention of Speculation in Land, 2010.