ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to delay the National Assembly’s post-budget session, scheduled for July 14, without assigning any specific reason.

Sources in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told The News here on Saturday that it had been conveyed to the ministry that the lower house of parliament would not meet as envisaged in the mutually agreed schedule.

“The government was hoping for a consensus among all the stakeholders on the PPP-floated constitutional package. But it has not happened so far, therefore, the assembly will now meet after a delay of some days,” these sources said.

When approached, Adviser to the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Izhar Amrohvi confirmed that the planned session would be held some time in the last week of July. He did not agree with this correspondent that the ongoing events on the national scene, especially the Fata operation and the situation arising out of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s Friday statement, had anything to do with this delay.

Amrohvi, however, maintained that the session could be summoned on a short notice if it was required in the days to come.

One of the main features of the last session was the PML-N legislators’ walkout from the National Assembly to lodge their protest against the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif from contesting the by-election.

A senior PML-N leader, when contacted for his views on the delay of the National Assembly session, said he was sure his party was not consulted on this unexpected development. But he played down the matter, saying such things did happen due to different reasons.

As for the combined opposition’s options, these are limited to filing a requisition application unlike their strong position in the upper house of parliament. The joint opposition has 50-plus senators in the house.

In the 100-member Senate, a requisition application requires signatures of 25 lawmakers. Contrary to it, the joint opposition in the National Assembly consists of 85 legislators, whereas a minimum of 86 MNAs have to back a move for summoning a special session.