ISLAMABAD, June 8, 2021: The National Assembly witnessed introduction of eight private members’ bills and discussed deaths of four members of a Canadian Muslim family in a truck attack in the city of London, Ontario province, 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 34th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met two hours and 50 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 30 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 05:28 pm against the scheduled time of 05:00 pm.
- The speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 29 minutes, Deputy Speaker presided over for 28 minutes, while the remaining 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.
- As many as 57 (17 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 34 (10percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leader of PPPP and BAP attended the sitting.
- Six minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House witnessed introduction of eight private members’ bills which were referred to the relevant committees for consideration. These bills were the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-185); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-51 and 106); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021(Amendment in Articles- 11 and 25A); the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the High Courts (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
- The House deferred seven private members’ bills including the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 489F and Schedule- II); the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Recusant Witnesses (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2021; the Memon University at Islamabad Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-84) and the Children (Pledging of Labour) (Amendment) Bill, 2021. These bills were deferred on the request of their movers.
- The House did not consider four private members’ bills and three amendments in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Minister for Energy responded to a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding shortage of transformers, and other electrical equipment resulting in load shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- The House did not consider another CAN, five motions under Rule 259 and a motion under Rule 87.
.Order and Institutionalization
- Fourteen lawmakers including the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights spoke on points of order (POs) for an hour and seven minutes. These POs were mainly related to deaths of four members of a Canadian Muslim family in a truck attack in the city of London, Ontario province and absence of ministers during consideration of legislative business.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 04:00 pm.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to 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