PM Shehbaz has taken notice of lawmakers' absenteeism, says NA speaker

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq disclosed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken note of the low attendance of lawmakers in the Lower House. The speaker made this statement while addressing journalists outside the National Assembly, following a session marked by minimal lawmaker presence. Sadiq stated that both lawmakers and the premier were now working towards ensuring compliance.

The speaker emphasized that maintaining the quorum was the responsibility of the government and opposition, not the speaker, and expressed hope that attendance would improve at the upcoming session, tentatively scheduled for Thursday or Friday. He urged both treasury and opposition members to remain present during parliamentary sessions, stating that vacant seats during debate, discussions, question hour, and legislation meant that important parliamentary business remained untapped.

Sadiq also discussed the upcoming legislative agenda, welcoming Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's call for a proactive approach towards legislation making, viewing it as a positive development that would help hold the government accountable and promote reforms. He mentioned that resignations submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members from standing committees had not been approved, hoping the government would continue its reform process and act on committee proposals. He reiterated that the committees would function better with the attendance of opposition members.

Regarding the possibility of the united opposition filing a no-confidence motion against the prime minister or him, Sadiq affirmed that it was the opposition's democratic and political right. He stated that if the opposition wished to exercise this right, they would be facilitated, and he would be ready to consider dialogue when the time came.