• CDA only demolishing illegal structures in Islamabad, assembly told
• MNA raises concern over non-rehabilitation of Malir families displaced by ML-1 project
• Lower house amends law to make State Life Insurance Company a statutory body

ISLAMABAD: Proceedings in the National Assembly remained sluggish on Thursday, with only one bill passed before a lack of quorum forced the presiding officer to adjourn the sitting until Friday morning.

The NA’s agenda for Thursday comprised 16 items, but the sitting was adjourned midway after a PTI MNA pointed out the lack of quorum.

A headcount confirmed that the required number of members was not present. Abdul Qadir Patel, who was presiding over the sitting, allowed some additional time for the quorum to be completed, but the number of MNAs present remained below the required 88. The House was subsequently adjourned until Friday morning.

During the question hour, 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 (CDA) had demolished only illegally constructed structures and houses.

He said the shortage of graveyards was one of the major problems facing the city’s administration and residents. Most private housing schemes and societies, he added, had converted plots reserved for graveyards, schools, parks and mosques into commercial properties.

Responding to a question, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi informed the House that Pakistan Railways had recovered more than 200,000 kanals of land previously occupied through encroachments.

Regarding the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, he said Prime Min­ister Shehbaz Sharif would inau­gurate its first phase, involving the laying of 480 kilometres of railway track between Rohri and Karachi, at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion.

MNA Syed Rafiullah said several families in Karachi’s Malir area had been rendered homeless by the ML-1 project, but had yet to be rehabilitated.

During a question concerning facilities for Haj pilgrims, PTI MNA Shehryar Afridi expre­ssed displeasure when Parliamentary Secre­tary Kesoo Mal Kheal Das responded to the query.

“It would have been better if a responsible member of the treasury benches or the minister for parliamentary affairs had answered the question,” Mr Afridi said.

Mr Das responded by pointing out that a Hindu minister in India also handled Haj affairs, questioning Mr Afridi’s suggestion that the matter required a more responsible person to address it.

Mr Afridi also said some private Haj organisers had made the religious obligation prohibitively exp­en­sive, with packages costing bet­ween Rs4 million and Rs5m.

State Life Insurance Company

After Question Hour, the National Assembly passed the Life Insurance (Nation­alisation) (Amend­ment) Bill, 2026.

The bill provides for the federal government to establish a company, to be known as State Life Insurance Company Limited, under the Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017).

It states that the appointment of the company’s chief executive officer and board of directors will be made in accordance with the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act and the Companies Act, 2017.

Following the company’s incorporation under the Companies Act, 2017, the federal government will issue a vesting order, to be published in the official gazette, transferring all assets, liabilities, contracts, policies, proceedings and undertakings of the existing corporation to the company on a specified date and under terms and conditions determined by the government. The corporation will stand dissolved on the effective date, according to the bill.

The legislation further provides that all employees and officers who have served the corporation continuously for at least one year immediately before the effective date, excluding those employed under project contracts, will be transferred to the new company on the same terms and conditions of service.

Their existing rights and privileges, including pension entitleme­nts, post-retirement medical benefits, provident fund and gratuity, will also be protected, the bill states.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Monday demanded on the floor of the House that details about Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts be shared.

Afridi, who has become non-functional as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, has not been seen since the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in his province on Oct 11. His whereabouts remained unknown on the day governor’s rule was imposed and federal minister said a day later that he and some of his cabinet members are in preventative custody.

The PTI has also alleged the detention and arrests of several of its other members, including lawmakers and ministers.

“Afridi and six to seven other MNAs of the opposition party are missing since the proclamation of emergency and governor’s rule in KP. At least we and their families should know where they are,” Achakzai said, after he reached the NA some time after the session began.

Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah was presiding over the proceedings and was asked by Achakzai to give him the floor.

Continuing his criticism of governor’s rule, Achakzai said, “You have attacked the assembly of a province”. He called for the issuance of production orders for missing MNAs.

The chief whip of the opposition in the NA, MNA Amir Dogar, also submitted an adjournment motion in the House, seeking production orders for six “missing” PTI MNAs: Amjad Ali Khan (NA-02), Junaid Akbar (NA-09), Fazal Muhammad Khan (NA-25), Zubair Khan (NA-42), Haji Imtiaz Ahmad Choudhry (NA-68) and Nasim Ali Shah (NA-39).

The adjournment motion referred to Rule 109, read with Rule 110, of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The motion termed the reported detention of Afridi, Swati, and the six MNAs “a matter of definite and urgent public importance”.

The motion said the reported detention of elected representatives holding constitutional and parliamentary offices raised serious concerns regarding the functioning of democratic institutions, the representation of the people, and the protection of the rights and privileges of elected representatives under the Constitution and applicable laws.

“This is a serious matter that warrants immediate discussion on the floor of the house,” the motion stated, requesting that the regular business of the House be adjourned to discuss the matter urgently.

It also requested the House to deliberate on the circumstances surrounding the said detentions and consider “appropriate measures” in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.

The NA proceedings began at 5pm, with federal ministers absent other members in low attendance. Consequently, PPP MNA Agha Rafiullah criticised the government for what he described as a lack of interest in legislation.

“You see all the front rows are empty, and not a single federal minister has turned up,” he said.

Dogar supported Rafiullah’s criticism, saying, “Rafiullah sahib, that is what we have been saying for the last three years.”

Later, Dogar pointed out the lack of quorum, and owing to the low attendance of MNAs, the deputy speaker stopped the proceedings to allow some more time for the House to be put in order.

At least 65 members are required to put the House in order or meet the quorum.

Eventually, the quorum was found complete after two counts and the proceedings resumed.

The proceedings have been adjourned until Tuesday morning.