ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers are often heard advocating for supremacy of the parliament, but brief proceedings of the two houses of parliament and adjournment of their sessions due to lack of quorum on Friday once again made it clear how parliamentarians themselves make mockery of democratic institutions.

Both the houses separately met for a few minutes but had to be adjourned till Monday without transacting any business due to quorum problem.

In Senate, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, wearing black armbands, protesting against the arrest of Senator Azam Swati gathered in front of the chairman’s dais, chanting anti-government slogans and tearing apart copies of the day’s agenda.

Playing smartly, a member of the treasury Afnan Ullah Khan pointed out lack of quorum in a bid to avert fiery speeches from the opposition lawmakers.

PTI legislators protest Swati’s arrest, tear apart copies of agenda

Deputy Chairman of Senate Mirza Muhammad Afridi on this asked the protesting senators to go back to their seats, but they continued their protest demanding immediate release of Mr Swati and condemned witch-hunt of opponents.

On counting of members, the house was not found in order and the chair adjourned the proceedings till Monday at 4pm.

A day earlier, PTI Senator Swati was arrested for tweeting against Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

“Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country,” he said in a Twitter post.

He also attached with his tweet a screenshot of a TV screen showing the breaking news of acquittal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering case.

Meanwhile, PPP leader Raza Rabbani condemned the arrest of Senator Swati.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the PPP leader said: “Criticism that is person(s) specific muddies the issue. The red line had long been drawn with other political parties and they have paid a heavy price, for much less. But this cannot justify the arrest.”

Meanwhile, PTI lawmakers submitted an application in the Senate Secretariat seeking issuance of production order of Mr Swati for the sitting on Oct 17.

Also, the National Assembly on Friday failed to hold the debate on the flood situation owing to non-seriousness on the part of the government and opposition members as Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani adjourned the sitting till Monday evening within minutes due to lack of quorum.

The quorum was pointed out by Ghous Bux Mahar of the opposition Grand Democra­tic Alliance after Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Shah protested against absence of ministers and lawmakers at a time when the house was holding a debate on the devastating floods in the country.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022