Deputy Speaker adjourns assembly over ministers' absence

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah ended a National Assembly meeting on Thursday due to the absence of ministers. This was a rare action, as no agenda items were discussed during the brief sitting. Shah expressed his disappointment, stating that it was unacceptable for ministers to miss the session despite the prime minister's clear directions. He criticized the ministers for not taking their duties seriously and said their behavior was unfortunate. A letter was sent to the prime minister to inform him of the assembly's discontent over the situation. The assembly was scheduled to discuss topics related to the ministries of energy and communications. However, Shah noted that both relevant ministers, Sardar Awais Leghari and Abdul Aleem Khan, were absent. No other minister was available to answer questions in their place. Frustrated by the lack of participation, Shah adjourned the house and scheduled a new meeting for Friday. This is not the first time he has faced this issue, as he had previously raised concerns about absent ministers in December 2024. The session opened with a moment of silence for Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a veteran politician and member of parliament who recently passed away.