ISLAMABAD, September 14, 2020: The National Assembly took up its 94 percent agenda on Monday and also held discussion on the motorway gang-rape incident, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of 26th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for three hours and 49 minutes. However, the proceedings remained suspended for 20 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1624 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and 43 minutes.
- Sixty-six (19%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 81(24%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP and PML attended the sitting.
- Seven minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- Tabled by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed two separate motions for consideration of the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020 and the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the joint sitting of the Parliament. Both bills have been passed by the National Assembly and rejected by the Senate.
- The House adopted a resolution to extend the International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance, 2020 for further period of 120 days with effect from September 17, 2020.
- The House passed the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 while the Joint Maritime Information Organization Bill, 2019 was deferred.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Narcotics Control presented the report of the Standing Committee on the Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
- The House witnessed presentation of the Second and third Quarterly Reports of the Board of Directors of State Bank of Pakistan on the state of Pakistan’s Economy for the year 2019-20; the Annual Report of Pakistan Information Commission for the year, 2018-2019 and the Annual Reports of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), for the year 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
- A total of 16 periodical reports of various Standing Committees were presented in the House under rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
- The House passed a motion to suspend the agenda of Private Members’ Day in the next sitting and to consider the government business during it.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding loss of lives and properties in District Khushab due to recent rains and flood.
- Another CAN on the agenda regarding gang rape of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway was merged with a motion under Rule 259 moved by Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs. Seven lawmakers including the Leader of the Opposition, Ministers for Communications, Human Rights and Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior spoke on this incident for an hour and 53 minutes.
- The House took up 10 out of 31 starred questions while lawmakers also asked 19 supplementary questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- Three lawmakers spoke on points of order for four minutes.
- The opposition lawmakers protested for 14 minutes during the speech of Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on September 15, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1630 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