ISLAMABAD, December 4, 2019: The National Assembly transacted most of its agenda on Wednesday and debated strategy of the government against continuous curfew and lock-down in Indian Occupied Kashmir, observers Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during first sitting of the 17th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for fours hour and 47 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 18 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1624 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 53 (16%) were present at the outset and 61 (18%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of GDA, MMAP, PPPP, ANP, MQM and PML-N attended the sitting.
- Six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House witnessed introduction of four government bills which were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration. These bills were the Port Qasim Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Surveying and Mapping (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Gwadar Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House unanimously adopted a supplementary resolution to denounce desecration of Holy Quran in Norway.
- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority Ordinance, 2019.
- The House adopted a resolution to extend the National Information Technology Board Ordinance, 2019 for a further period of one hundred and twenty days with effect from December 22, 2019. The resolution was tabled by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Interior presented the report on the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2019.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs presented report on the Banks (Nationalization) (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage presented report on the University of Islamabad Bill, 2019.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Energy presented the report on a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding difficulties being faced by the residents of Islamabad due to ban on new electricity and Gas connections and meters.
- Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs presented the annual Report on the state of the Economy which includes the review of fourth quarter on the State of the Economy for the year 2018-19.
- Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed two separate motions to elect Standing Committee on Power and constitute Parliamentary Committee to ensure protection to the rights of persons with disabilities and suggest legislative measures and amendments in the existing laws.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up eight out of 31 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions as well.
- An elected member of JWP winning NA-259 seat in re-polling took oath and spoke for 12 minutes.
- Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination responded to a CAN regarding policy on population management.
- Another CAN on the agenda regarding non-implementation of FATA reforms was dropped due to the absence of the mover.
- The House did not consider a motion of thanks expressing gratitude to the President for his address to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on September 12, 2019.
Order and Institutionalization
- Thirty-one lawmakers spoke on points of order (POs) consuming two hours and 39 minutes of the proceedings. These POs were related to Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, FATA issues, legislative business, governance, agriculture and politics.
- BNP lawmakers protested during the proceedings for four minutes against abduction of persons in Balochistan.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on December 5, 2019 (Thursday) at 1600 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted