ISLAMABAD, January 12, 2022: The National Assembly continued general discussion on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during third sitting of 40th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for five hours and 55 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 52 minutes due to lack of quorum.
- The sitting started at 11:29 am against the scheduled time of 11:00 am.
- The speaker chaired the sitting for 33 minutes, the deputy speaker for an hour and 56 minutes while the remaining sitting was presided over by a member of panel of chairpersons.
- The leader of the house (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The opposition leader was present for an hour and 20 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders GDA, PPPP, PML-N, BAP, BNP-M and MMPA attended the sitting.
- As many as 44 (13 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 38 (11 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- Eight minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House did not consider legislative agenda appearing on `Orders of the Day’.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Eighteen lawmakers participated in debate on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 and spoke for four hours and 36 minutes.
- The House neither took up two calling attention notices nor considered a motion of thanks to the President for his address to both Houses and a motion under Rule 259.
Order and Institutionalization
- A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 01:05 pm following which the Chair ordered for counting. The quorum was found incomplete and proceedings remained suspended for 52 minutes.
- A GDA lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 03:10 pm but it was found complete upon counting.
- A PPPP lawmaker again pointed out the quorum at 05:21 pm which was found incomplete upon counting.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 04:00 pm.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to 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