ISLAMABAD, January 6, 2020: The National Assembly left most of its agenda unaddressed on Monday and discussed situation in Middle East, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the fourth sitting of 18th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for four hours and 28 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 50 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1616 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for four hours and 19 minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 26 (8%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 56 (16%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, BAP, AMLP, MQM, PML and MMAP attended the sitting.
- Seven out of ten minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- Moved by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2019 along with amendments. Earlier, the House passed a motion for introduction of the bill with majority vote as 87 members voted in favor of it and 83 members opposed it.
- Tabled by Minister for Housing and Works, the House adopted a resolution to check import, publication and sale of blasphemous content in the country.
- The House did not consider three government bills, two Calling Attention Notices and a motion of thanks appearing on its agenda.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Minister for Foreign Affairs gave a policy statement about stance of Pakistan on situation in Middle East and spoke for 46 minutes. Three lawmakers – PML-N (two), PPPP (one) – expressed their view on it for 25 minutes.
- The House took up ten out of 29 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 18 supplementary questions as well.
- Moved by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House approved a motion to suspend the Private Members’ Business on January 7, 2020 (Tuesday).
Order and Institutionalization
- Six lawmakers spoke on Points of Order for 22 minutes.
- PPPP lawmakers walked out of the House at 2041 hours against the attitude of Minister for Foreign Affairs who did not stay in the House after his speech to listen the Opposition’s point of view on situation in Middle East. Later, PML-N also joined the walkout and did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting at 2044 hours.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 7, 2020 (Tuesday) 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