Senate proceedings disrupted as opposition walks out

ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of Parliament could not remain in session for more than 30 minutes on Monday as the joint opposition Senators staged walkout from the House, charging that their leadership was being singled out for accountability.

As the Senate chairman started proceedings of the House, Senator Sherry Rehman stood up on a point of order and said the leadership of her country was being targeted in the name of accountability.

In his response, Leader of the House Shibli Faraz said the government supported the accountability process but was not interfering in any matters of courts.

The issue of quorum arose when the opposition parties staged walkout from the Upper House of the Parliament to protest what they said unilateral accountability being conducted against erstwhile two ruling parties leadership and sparing the ruling party members.

Senator Robina Khalid pointed out the quorum. Chairman ordered ringing bells for five minutes and directed Leader of the House Shibli Fraz to bring the opposition back, but the opposition did not budge from their position.

After five minutes, the chairman ordered the staff to count the members present in the House and suspended the proceedings for 30 minutes as the proceedings could not be initiated, when House lacks quorum.

When the proceedings resumed after half an hour, the chairman ordered counting the members and read the prorogation orders as the House was not in order.