ISLAMABAD, May 8, 2019: The National Assembly took up almost two third agenda on Wednesday and referred six bills to the relevant committees for further deliberations, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in the Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 11th sitting of the ninth session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and three minutes.
- The proceedings started at 1140 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for 53 minutes.
- The Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 133 lawmakers (39%) were present at the outset and 152 (44%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, MMAP, PML, MQMP and BAP attended the sitting.
- As many as eight out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House referred the Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2019; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019] (Article 51 and 59); the Protection of Persons against forced Religious Conversion Bill, 2019; the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Section 166A, B, 176A, B, C, D, E, F and G); the Day Care Centers Bill, 2019 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2019 to the relevant Standing Committees. The last two bills have already got clearance from the Senate.
- The motion to introduce the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was rejected after voice voting.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented reports of the Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 106); the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 37).
- On behalf of the Chairman Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, a member of the Committee presented report on the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- Proposed by an MMAP and two PPPP lawmakers, the Chair referred the amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National assembly, 2007 to the relevant Standing Committee.
- The House did not take up five resolutions, five motions under Rule 259 and two matters of public importance under Rule 87 for discussion
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Minister of State for Revenue responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the high rate of mark up being charged by the NGOs and Microfinance Banks on agricultural loans.
- The House did not address a CAN regarding proposed 50% reduction in the budget of the Higher Education Commission.
- The ministers responded to nine out of 33 Starred Questions during the proceedings. In addition, lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions as well.
Order and Institutionalization
- The Chair adjourned the House to meet again on May 9, 2019 (Thursday) at 1400 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’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted