ISLAMABAD, July 28, 2015: The first private members’ day of the National Assembly’s 24th session was marked by lawmakers’ low attendance – with 28 legislators (8%) present at the start and 35 (10%) at the time of adjournment, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Tuesday.
The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, however, it was not pointed out by any of the members.
The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-replacement of the faulty and overloaded transformers in Districts Charsadda, Mardan & Lakki Marwat and about increase in the CNIC renewal fee from Rs.200 to Rs.1000.
The House rejected four bills with majority vote. These bills included the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 25-A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 81) and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment in Act No. XLV of 1860).
Further, the House deferred four bills due to the absence of PML-N female lawmaker who moved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 11), the Factories (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Employment of Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2015.
Another bill – the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 – aimed at amending the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012 was not taken up.
Two motions under Rule 44 – one each submitted by MQM and JUI-F lawmakers – to de-seat the PTI lawmakers who did not show up in the Assembly for more than 40 consecutive days without leave application were deferred till next private members’ day.
The House discussed a commenced resolution regarding steps to control electricity pilferage. Four lawmakers – one each from PTI, JI, PML-F and AMLP – participated in debate for 25 minutes.
Five other resolutions that were not taken up were related to enact the Deceased Employees’ Package announced by the Prime Minister for the Federal Government employees, improve embassies’ performance in Pakistan, control unemployment, establish Women University in Buner and construct underpasses at Railway crossings for Harrapa city and Harrapa Museum.
Five motions under Rule 259 were also not taken up which were about foreign policy, delay in allotment of plots to federal government employees under Housing Scheme Bhara Kahu Islamabad, disenfranchisement of women, performance of Pakistan Cricket Board and climate changes.
The House did not consider amendment in rule 192 of the Rules of Procedures due to absence of the mover while insertion of new rule 125-A was rejected by the House which was about attaching a certificate with notice of legislative bills, assuring that the bill is not in contradiction with the injunctions of Islam.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings
- The National Assembly met for two hours and 50 minutes
- The sitting started at 1050 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 45 minutes
- The remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting
- The Opposition Leader was present for 68 minutes
- 28 members (8%) were present at the start and 35 (10%) at the end of the sitting. As many as 162 lawmakers (47%) were present at one point of the sitting
- The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F and APML were absent during the entire sitting
- Four out of 10 minority members attended the sitting
- None of the members applied for leave
Output
- The House rejected four bills with majority vote which included the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 25A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 81)and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment in Act No. XLV of 1860)
- The House deferred four bills due to the absence of PML-N female lawmaker who moved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 11), the Factories (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Employment of Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2015
- Another bill – the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 – aimed at amending the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012 was not taken up
- The House discussed a commenced resolution regarding steps to control electricity pilferage. Four lawmakers – one each from PTI, JI, PML-F and AMLP – participated in debate for 25 minutes.
- Five other resolutions that were not taken up were related to enact the Deceased Employees’ Package announced by the Prime Minister for the Federal Government employees, improve embassies’ performance in Pakistan, control unemployment, establish Women University in Buner and construct underpasses at Railway crossings for Harrapa city and Harrapa Museum
Representation and Responsiveness
- Five motions under Rule 259 were also not taken up which were about foreign policy, delay in allotment of plots to employees of federal government under Housing Scheme Bharakahu Islamabad, disenfranchisement of women, performance of Pakistan Cricket Board and climate changes
- Two motions under Rule 44 – one each submitted by MQM and JUI-F lawmakers – to de-seat the PTI lawmakers who did not show up in the Assembly for more than 40 consecutive days without leave application were deferred till next private members’ day
- The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-replacement of the faulty and overloaded transformers in Districts Charsadda, Mardan & Lakki Marwat and increase in the CNIC renewal free from Rs.200 to Rs.1000
Order and Institutionalization
- Fifteen points of order consumed 57 minutes (34%) of the proceedings’ time.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public
To download the factsheet, click here
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.