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National Assembly. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD:
The government’s attempt to pass 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 hour when opposition MP Iqbal Afridi highlighted the lack of quorum. A count confirmed that the quorum was incomplete, prompting the vice president to adjourn the session.
When the session resumed after a short break, Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry introduced the Pakistan Airports Authority (Amendment) Bill and the Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Bill. The House passed the Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 with 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 then attempted to introduce the FC Restructuring Amendment Bill 2026 through the supplementary agenda. However, opposition MPs gathered around the Speaker’s dais and demanded a quorum count.
Initially, the President continued the work and began to present articles of the bill for approval, with the adoption of two or three articles. However, the opposition insisted that a count be carried out. When the count was done, the quorum was found to be incomplete as MQM members staged a walkout.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry tried to persuade the MQM members to return to the House, but their efforts failed. The session was then adjourned sine die, preventing the passage of the FC amendment bill.
The MQM protested against the sudden change in Sindh governor. MQM MP Aminul Haque later said the party staged the walkout because the government had not taken it into confidence, adding that the party might quit the government.
