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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 strike, breaking the quorum.
The session, chaired by Vice President Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, began with question time when opposition member Iqbal Afridi pointed out the lack of quorum. A recount confirmed that the quorum was incomplete, prompting the vice president to adjourn the session.
When the session resumed after a brief pause, 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 by majority vote.
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.
Subsequently, the government attempted to introduce the FC Restructuring Amendment Bill, 2026 through the supplementary agenda. However, opposition members gathered around the Speaker’s dais and demanded a quorum recount.
Initially, the president continued the procedure and began to present clauses of the bill for approval, and two or three clauses were approved. However, the opposition pushed for a recount. When the recount was done, the quorum was deemed incomplete and MQM members went on strike.
Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Home Affairs Talal Chaudhry tried to persuade the MQM members to return to the House, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The session was subsequently adjourned indefinitely, preventing the passage of the FC amendment bill.
The MQM protested against the sudden change of Sindh governor. MQM legislator Aminul Haque later said the party organized the strike because the government had not taken it into its confidence, adding that the party could walk out of the government.
