ISLAMABAD, August 9, 2021: The National Assembly left 71 percent of its agenda unaddressed and was adjourned due to lack of quorum, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet on Monday.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 12th sitting of the 35th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for an hour and 32 minutes.
- The sitting started at 05:22 pm against the scheduled time of 05:00 pm.
- The speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The deputy speaker was not present.
- The leaders of the house (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 53 (15 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 41 (12 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of GDA and PPPP attended the sitting.
- Six minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- Minister for aviation division presented the Pakistan Airports Authority Ordinance, 2021.
- Minister of State for parliamentary affairs and Minister for federal education, professional training, national heritage and culture introduced the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Institute of Education Bill, 2021. Both bills were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration.
- The House did not take up the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Higher Education Commission (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 and two reports of Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Parliamentary Secretary for planning, development and reform responded to a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding non provision of relief to traders with regard to electricity bills and reduction in rent of shops during COVID-19.
- Another CAN on the agenda regarding cases of gender based violence in the country and a motion of thanks to president for his address to Parliament were not taken up.
- The House took up 11 out of 40 starred questions while lawmakers also asked 20 supplementary questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- A PML-N lawmaker spoke on points of order for two minutes.
- A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 06:50 pm following which the Chair ordered for counting. The quorum was found incomplete and the House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 11:00 am.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.
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