ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of “colluding” with the PTI during National Assembly proceedings, after the acting speaker abruptly ended the session when PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi pointed out a “lack of quorum” just before an agenda item on renaming Islamabad International Airport.
The final item on Wednesday’s agenda was a calling-attention notice submitted by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and other PPP members, seeking the defence minister’s response on delays in renaming the New Islamabad International Airport after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
However, while PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Patel was speaking during the question hour, acting speaker Ali Zahid of the PML-N suddenly adjourned the session. Afridi raised the quorum objection, prompting a headcount.
“Sixty-three members are present; the house is not in order,” Zahid declared, ending the session.
PPP lawmakers, with their microphones muted, protested loudly on the assembly floor.
Addressing reporters afterward, PPP MNA Shazia Marri called the move “a conspiracy,” alleging that it appeared the PML-N and PTI had coordinated. She criticised the early adjournment, saying the session had barely run for an hour. Marri said Patel had also spoken to the speaker, adding that “this feels intentional.”
She lamented, “PTI is known for being non-serious, but we did not expect this from the PML-N.” She warned the coalition partner that, given the country’s situation, it should act more responsibly. “Treating a mature and sensible party this way is unacceptable,” she said.
Separately, Patel told the media that PML-N lawmakers were “sitting in the lobby” while the quorum call was made, also calling it a “well-planned conspiracy.” He questioned how a quorum objection was allowed while his question was still incomplete.
“If the location of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Airport has changed, why can the name not be changed?” he asked, adding that Benazir “does not need praise from narrow-minded people.”
He said that if the government failed to respond, the PPP would decide its future strategy in its next meeting.
Meanwhile, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, in a post on X, expressed disappointment at the acting speaker’s conduct, calling it a “petty tactic.” She said it had become “a mockery” to repeatedly suspend sessions despite sufficient members being present. She alleged that the speaker was instructed to avoid her calling-attention notice.
The New Islamabad International Airport was inaugurated on May 2, 2018, by then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Earlier this year, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi requested the airport be renamed after Benazir Bhutto. He noted that the previous Islamabad airport carried her name until 2018, when it was replaced with “New Islamabad International Airport.”
