ISLAMABAD, February 12, 2018: The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to pay tribute to renowned lawyer Asma Jahangir who passed away in Lahore on Saturday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.
The Speaker summoned the Secretaries Petroleum and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) over their absence in the lobbies of the House to take notes on various parliamentary interventions related to them. Their absence annoyed the Chair and he did not adjourn the proceedings till their appearance in the House.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of the 52nd session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for three hours and eight minutes while the proceeding remained suspended for 33 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1711 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours 12 minutes.
- As many as 43 (13%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 80 (23%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The Parliamentary Leaders of PPPP, APML, JI, PKMAP, BNP-A, QWP, AJIP and ANP attended the sitting.
- Four minority members were present.
Output
- Tabled by PPPP Parliamentary Leader, the House adopted a resolution to pay tribute to renowned lawyer Asma Jahangir.
- State Minister for CADD Division presented Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 2018.
- The House witnessed presentation of National Assembly Secretariat Employees Bill, 2018 to regulate the services affairs of employees.
- Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs introduced the Banks (Nationalization) (Amendment) Bill, 2018 which was referred to the relevant committee.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training presented the report on the Institute for Art and Culture Bill, 2018.
- State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs presented the Fiscal and Debt Policy Statements for the year 2017-18 and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Annual Progress Report 2016-17.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up one out of 31 Starred Questions for answers during the Question Hour. The lawmakers asked two supplementary questions.
- The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding imposition of condition of biometric for Umra Visas by the Government of Saudi Arabia and irregularities in the distribution and installation of gas meters in Malakand Division. These CANs were responded to by State Minister for Religious Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum respectively.
- The Chair summoned the Secretaries Petroleum and CADD over their absence in the lobbies of the House to take notes on various parliamentary interventions related to them.
- As many as five lawmakers raised the matters of public importance under Rule 18 consuming 10 minutes of the proceedings.
- The House did not address the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament.
Order and Institutionalization
- Sixteen points of order consumed 26 minutes of the proceedings.
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.