ISLAMABAD, February 28, 2013: Starting 49 minutes late, the ninth sitting of the 50th National Assembly session which met for three hours and six minutes on Thursday witnessed the passage of three bills amid low attendance of members.
The house passed two government bills – the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Bill 2013 and the Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2012. A private member’s Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2013 presented as supplementary agenda was also passed.
Sixty-seven members were present at the outset while there were 61 at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 126 members were present at one point of the sitting.
The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and all party leaders except BNPA (single member party) remained away from the sitting. The Speaker chaired the preceedings for 45 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The National Assembly met for three hours and six minutes.
- The sitting started at 1149 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours. The proceedings started 49 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for 45 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- None of the parliamentary leaders except BNPA (single member party) attended the sitting.
- The chief whips of PPPP, PMLN, BNPA and ANP were present.
- Sixty seven members were present at the outset while there were 61 at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 126 members were present at one point of the sitting.
- Seven minority members attended the sitting.
- Three members applied for leave.
Representation and Responsiveness
- One Calling Attention Notice about the delay in issuance of identity cards by NADRA in Sindh particularly Hyderabad was taken up.
- Six out of eighteen questions on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant minister. Additionally 16 supplimentary questions were asked.
Output
- The house passed two government bills; the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Bill 2013 and the Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2012.
- A private member’s bill – the Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2013 – presented as supplementary agenda was also passed by the house.
- The Constitution (Twenty-third Amendment) Bill 2013 was not taken up by the National Assembly.
Order and institutionalization
- Five Points of Order consumed 16 minutes.
- There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day were available to legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
- The quorum visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the legislators.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a Member organization of FAFEN.