ISLAMABAD, July 28, 2020: The National Assembly (NA) left 79 percent of its agenda unaddressed on Private Members’ Day, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Tuesday.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 13th sitting of 23rd session:
Members’ Participation
- The Assembly met for an hour and 40 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1620 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for 53 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Leaders of House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 39 lawmakers (11%) were present at the outset and 102 (30%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- As many as six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The Chair referred eight private members’ bills to the relevant committees after their introduction in the House. These bills were the Limitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Article 25A); the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Al-Karam International Institute Bill, 2020; the Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Benazir Income Support Programme (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
- The House did not address 18 other private members bills appearing on the agenda, five resolutions and as many motions under Rule 259, three reports of Standing Committees, a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) and amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a CAN regarding failure of PEMRA to take action against derogatory contents of dramas on private television channels attributed to Pashtoons.
Order and Institutionalization
- Minster for Foreign Affairs spoke on a point of order for 38 minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on July 29, 2020 (Wednesday) at 1100 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of 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