Parliament meets today amid rising political temperature
03 September, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Both houses of parliament will meet today (Monday) amidst the rising political temperature between the ruling PPP and opposition PML-N over the row involving creation of new provinces in Punjab. Sessions of the Senate and National Assembly (NA) are likely to be stormy, particularly the one in the Lower House of parliament where the PML-N has a sizeable presence and is expected to give the ruling party a tough time. Although the PML-N will finalise its strategy in its parliamentary meeting before the sessions, there are signs it would attempt to disrupt the proceedings of parliament by lodging a protest. According to parliamentary sources, the PML-N is also expected to settle the score with the PPP in parliament in revenge for what the latter did in the Punjab Assembly over the same issue a few days ago. The PML-N wants to put up the same sort of show to prevent the treasury from carrying out the legislative business smoothly. The agenda of the Senate session has been made public, according to which no special business is on the schedule. But order of the day for the National Assembly was unclear until the filing of this report. However, according to media reports, the agenda may include increase in number of seats for minorities, which has been publicly announced by Minister for Interfaith Harmony Akram Gill Masih. The Accountability Bill may also see the light of day if the statement of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is believed. Gilani said in Lahore the other day that Accountability Bill, which has been lying with the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for the last two and half years, would be part of the agenda. End.
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