ISLAMABAD, December 5, 2019: The National Assembly was adjourned on Thursday due to lack of quorum amidst absence of the Leaders of the House and the Opposition, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during second sitting of 17th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met an hour and 53 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 15 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1637 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 61 (18%) were present at the outset and 75 (22%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, GDA, PML and JWP attended the sitting.
- Six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up eight out of 30 starred questions while lawmakers asked 15 supplementary questions as well.
- Minister for Housing and Works responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the deduction of 5% maintenance allowance from the salaries of the Federal Government employees working in BPS-6 to 15.
- Another CAN, nine periodical reports and a Motion of thanks were not considered by the House.
Order and Institutionalization
- As many as four lawmakers spoke on Points of Order consuming eight minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- PML-N lawmakers walked out of the House at 1808 hours against non-production of its detained members in the House. They did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
- BNP lawmakers protested during the proceedings against abduction of women in Balochistan. They sat in-front of dais of the Chair for five minutes following which the Chair directed the Minister for Interior to brief the House on this issue in next sitting.
- A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1825 hours which led to the adjournment of sitting after counting.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on December 6, 2019 (Friday) at 1100 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted