Lawmakers absent as Parliament’s work loses momentum
Summary
The House of Representatives failed to advance the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2026 after only 61 lawmakers remained in the chamber, below the quorum required for a vote. The breakdown has sparked criticism of absenteeism and weak parliamentary discipline among both ruling and opposition benches.
Key Points
- The House could not vote on the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2026 because attendance fell to 61 lawmakers, below the 69 needed for quorum.
- The quorum failure delayed consideration of the bill until the next sitting on August 17.
- RSP and other party whips blamed lawmakers’ absenteeism and called for stricter attendance enforcement and parliamentary discipline.
- Parliament records show poor attendance even among senior leaders and ministers during recent sittings.
