ISLAMABAD: Opposition members staged a walkout from the National Assembly on the fifth consecutive day on Friday in protest against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s absence from the House. On a point of order, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Naveed Qamar said that opposition lawmakers would not sit in the parliament until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif responds to their questions, and announced a walkout. The National Assembly session resumed with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid had assured the House on Thursday that the prime minister would attend Friday’s session. The assembly session was adjourned due to incomplete quorum, which was pointed out by Amjad Ali Khan. On the other hand, a joint meeting of the opposition parties chaired by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, leader of the opposition in the Senate, took place at the Parliament House. Members of the PPP, PTI, PML, AML and other opposition parties attended the meeting. The meeting decided to boycott the National Assembly and Senate proceedings until the prime minister joins the session. Taking advantage of the absence of the opposition parties, ruling PML-N lawmakers criticised the opposition parties in general and PTI chief Imran Khan in particularly. Mian Abdul Manan said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rejected the PTI policies when they elected PML-N candidates in the by-polls in the PK-8 constituency. He said the nation rejected the politics of accusations and opted for development of the country. Talal Chaudhry, who is the most vocal member of the ruling party against the PTI, said that most corrupt people were with Imran Khan who was making a hue and cry over the Panama leaks. Referring to his party candidate’s victory in the PK-8 constituency, Chaudhry said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opted for “No Imran No”. PML-N lawmaker Nasir Baloch said the incumbent government took a lot of measures for the welfare of the people. He said the previous government embezzled Rs 42 billion from the funds of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI). He said that these people were making a hue and cry about corruption and calling for prime minister’s accountability. A minority lawmaker said it was disrespect to a political party (PTI) to lose a seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where it was in power.