ISLAMABAD, September 15, 2020: The National Assembly continued debate on motorway gang-rape incident and passed the Anti-Terrorism (3rd Amendment) Bill, 2020 without sending it to the relevant standing committee after the rules were suspended, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Tuesday.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during the second sitting of 26th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for six hours and 35 minutes. However, the proceedings remained suspended for 21 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1653 hours against the scheduled time of 1630 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 53 minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by a member of panel of Chairpersons.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- Fifty-six (16%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 10 (3%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of BAP, GDA and ANP attended the sitting.
- Seven minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House took up the supplementary business and passed the Anti-Terrorism (3rd Amendment) Bill, 2020 without sending it to the relevant standing committee. Earlier, the Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs moved a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of this bill which was passed by the House.
- Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House adopted a supplementary resolution demanding to improve prosecution as well as criminal justice systems in the country and restrict police, media and investigation agencies not to disclose the nationality of any accused till confirmation from his/her identity documents.
- The House adopted a motion to elect the members of the Standing Committees on Aviation. The motion also authorized the Speaker to make changes in the composition of these committees, as and when required.
- A PTI lawmaker introduced the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which was referred to the relevant committee for consideration.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Parliamentary Secretary for Interior responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding increasing trend of beggary in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
- Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Communications answered another CAN regarding humanitarian disaster in various districts of Sindh and other parts of Pakistan caused by torrential rains.
- Thirty-seven lawmakers debated a commenced motion under Rule 259 for four hours and 42 minutes regarding gang rape of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway.
Order and Institutionalization
- Three lawmakers including Minister of State for SAFRON spoke on points of order for ten minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on September 16, 2020 (Wednesday) at 1030 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of 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