ISLAMABAD, April 23, 2015: The third sitting of the National Assembly’s 21st session was adjourned due to lack of quorum, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
Two bills- the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2015 and the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill 2014- were introduced in the House and referred to relevant committees for further deliberations.
Heads of three standing committees presented periodic reports before the House.
Thirty-two lawmakers (9%) were present at the start of the sitting and 52 (15%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Leader of Opposition was present for 24 minutes. None of the MQM lawmakers attended the sitting.
The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) over non-extension of Multan road from Sundar to Thokar Niaz Baig Lahore and delay in the construction of over-head bridge in Main Bazaar Takht Bahi, Mardan.
Following are some key observations of the house proceedings:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings
- The National Assembly met for an hour and 57 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1040 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 17 minutes while the Deputy Speaker presided over the remaining proceedings.
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting; Leader of Opposition was present for 24 minutes.
- 32 members (9%) were present at the start and 52 (15%) at the end of the sitting.
- A maximum of 112 members (33%) were present at one point of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of JI, BNP, PkMAP, AMLP and ANP attended the sitting.
- Eight minority members were present.
- Ten lawmakers applied for leave.
Output
- Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs introduced the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill, 2015 which was referred to relevant committee.
- The State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources also introduced the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill, 2014. It was also referred to the relevant committee after consensus among lawmakers of government and opposition benches
- Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented the periodical report of the committee for the period November, 2013 –June, 2014.
- Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination presented the periodical report of the committee for the period December, 2013 –June, 2014.
- Chairman of the Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions presented the periodical report of the committee for the period November, 2013 –December, 2014.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up two CANs over non-extension of Multan road from Sundar to Thokar Niaz Baig Lahore and delay in the construction of over-head bridge in Main Bazaar Takht Bahi, Mardan.
- Thirteen out of 31 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 12 supplementary questions.
- The House did not discuss a motion under rule 259 about petrol shortage and energy crisis in the country.
Order and Institutionalization
- Six points of order consumed 16 minutes of the sitting time.
- The Opposition lawmakers including PkMAP MNAs walked out of the House at 1230 hours over ministerial absence.
- JI lawmakers also walked out of the House at 1232 hours against load-shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- An independent legislator pointed out the lack of quorum at 1235 hours. The Chair ordered for the count at which the quorum was found incomplete and the sitting was adjourned till the next day.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted