Proceedings in the National Assembly ground to a halt on Thursday after a lack of quorum forced the presiding officer to adjourn the sitting until Friday morning, with only one bill cleared from a 16-item agenda. The National Assembly quorum failure came after a PTI member of the house pointed out that the required number of lawmakers was not present.
A headcount confirmed the house was not in order. Abdul Qadir Patel, who was presiding, allowed extra time for the quorum to be completed, but attendance stayed below the required 88 and the house was adjourned.
National Assembly quorum pointed out by PTI member
The lower house had 16 items on its agenda, but the sitting was adjourned midway after the PTI MNA raised the objection. With the count confirming insufficient attendance, the chair brought the day’s legislative business to an early close.
The episode underlines how thin attendance has become a recurring drag on the house’s legislative output. Only a single bill made it through on Thursday, leaving the rest of the agenda untouched.
Question hour: demolitions, railways and graveyards
Before the adjournment, the question hour took up several civic issues. The demolition of houses and other structures in Islamabad, particularly in Sector E-12, came under discussion. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said the Capital Development Authority had demolished only illegally constructed structures and houses. He added that the shortage of graveyards was one of the capital’s major problems, noting that most private housing schemes had converted plots reserved for graveyards, schools, parks and mosques into commercial properties.
On railways, Minister Hanif Abbasi said Pakistan Railways had recovered more than 200,000 kanals of land from encroachments. He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would inaugurate the first phase of the Main Line-1 project, a 480-kilometre Rohri-to-Karachi track estimated at $2.5 billion. The project has been a long-running priority, with the government pushing to accelerate ML-1 and wider railway reforms and the Asian Development Bank backing the corridor with $1.1 billion.
MNA Syed Rafiullah said several families in Karachi’s Malir area had been rendered homeless by ML-1 but had yet to be rehabilitated.
On Haj facilities, PTI MNA Shehryar Afridi objected when Parliamentary Secretary Kesoo Mal Kheal Das answered the query, saying a treasury member or the parliamentary affairs minister should have responded. Afridi also said some private Haj organisers had made the pilgrimage prohibitively expensive, with packages costing between Rs4 million and Rs5 million.
State Life made a statutory company
After question hour, the National Assembly passed the Life Insurance (Nationalisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the day’s sole legislative achievement. The bill provides for the federal government to establish State Life Insurance Company Limited under the Companies Act, 2017, with the chief executive and board appointed under the State-Owned Enterprises Act.
A gazette vesting order will transfer all assets, liabilities, contracts, policies and undertakings of the existing corporation to the company, which will then stand dissolved. Employees and officers with at least one year of continuous service, excluding project contracts, move to the new company on the same terms, with pension, post-retirement medical, provident fund and gratuity rights protected.
A recurring problem for the lower house
Thursday’s adjournment was not an isolated incident. Earlier in the week, PTI chief whip Amir Dogar pointed out the lack of quorum, forcing the deputy speaker to suspend the sitting. A headcount confirmed the house was not in order, and only after an interval of about an hour did a recount restore the quorum.
With 342 seats in the house, keeping 88 members present should not be a heavy lift, yet the treasury benches have repeatedly struggled. The composition of the National Assembly and the absence of key opposition figures, including Achakzai’s demands over detained lawmakers, have kept attendance fragile.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the National Assembly adjourned on Thursday?
A PTI MNA pointed out the lack of quorum. A headcount confirmed attendance was below the required 88 members, so the presiding officer adjourned the sitting until Friday morning.
What is the quorum requirement for the National Assembly?
At least 88 members must be present for the house to conduct business. On Thursday, the count fell short even after additional time was allowed.
Which bill was passed before the adjournment?
The Life Insurance (Nationalisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, converting the State Life Insurance Corporation into State Life Insurance Company Limited under the Companies Act, 2017.
