ISLAMABAD, December 10, 2019: The National Assembly skipped 81 percent agenda on Tuesday and referred ten private members’ bills to the relevant committees for their consideration, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during fifth sitting of the 17th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for three hours and two minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 31 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1625 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 44 minutes while the rest of the sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- Fifty-six lawmakers (16%) were present at the outset and 88 (26%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PML and ANP attended the sitting.
- Seven minority members were present.
Output
- Ten private members’ bills were introduced in the House which included the Emergency Madadgar (Protection from Civil and Criminal Liabilities) Bill, 2019; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 89); the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019] (Article 140B); the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2019 (Article 27); the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2019; the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Insertion of 377C, 377D, 377E, 377F, 377G and amendment in Schedule II); the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Section 104) and the Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- The House rejected three motions with majority vote for introduction of as many bills. These bills were the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 260) and the Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- A bill – the Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, 2019 – was withdrawn by its lawmaker belonging to PTI.
- The House deferred the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Section 206 & 208) due to the absence of relevant minister while two bills including the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019] (Section 292) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019] (Article 213) were also deferred due to the absence of its movers.
- Three bills including the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment in Third Schedule) and the Institute for Bioresources Research Bill, 2019 were left unaddressed due to absence of their movers.
- Tabled by Minister for Human Rights, the House adopted a resolution to condemn the Indian Lok Sabha citizenship legislation.
- The House did not consider 68 private members’ bill, 13 reports of Standing Committees, amendments in Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007, six resolutions including a resolution to disapprove ten Ordinances, five motions under Rule 259, a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) and discussion on a matter of urgent public importance under Rule 87.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Minister for Power Division responded to a CAN regarding charging of fuel surcharge in electricity bills from the people of Malakand region.
.Order and Institutionalization
- Three lawmakers spoke on points of order for 13 minutes.
- A PPPP lawmaker walked out of the House for five minutes against the Chair’s attitude who did not allow her to express views on a legislative proposal.
- A PML-N lawmaker walked out of the House at 1918 hours against non-issuance of production order of the detained lawmakers. He did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on December 13, 2019 (Friday) at 1030 hours.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers was available to the 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.