ISLAMABAD, April 11, 2018: The National Assembly, on Wednesday, witnessed the presentation of three presidential ordinances promulgated to give effect to the tax amnesty scheme announced by the Prime Minister last week, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of the 55th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for three hours and seven minutes.
- The sitting started at 1045 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 28 minutes while a member of the Panel of Chairpersons presided over rest of the proceedings.
- The Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for 55 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 47 minutes.
- As many as 37 (11%) lawmakers were present at the start of the sitting and 26 (8%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, JI and PkMAP attended the sitting.
- As many as six minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- State Minister for Finance presented the Foreign Assets (Declaration and Repatriation) Ordinance 2018, the Voluntary Declaration of Domestic Assets Ordinance, 2018 and the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018. As many as five lawmakers spoke for 37 minutes on the motions for presentation of the ordinances. The Advisor to the Prime Minister on n Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs also spoke for 3 minutes to respond the lawmakers.
- Moved by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Defense Production, the House passed the COMSATS University Islamabad Bill, 2018.
- The Minister for Interior introduced the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Bill, 2018. The House referred the bill to the committee for its review and recommendations.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training presented the report of the committee on the Institute for Art and Culture Bill, 2018. The House considered and passed the bill as reported by the committee after suspending the requirement of the Rule 123(2) of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2007. According to the said rule, at least two clear days in a session shall intervene between the day of supply of copies of the bill to the members and the day for setting down of the bill for consideration.
- Minister of Parliamentary Affairs laid the Annual Report of the National Economic Council for the Financial Year 2016-17.
- The House unanimously passed a supplementary resolution expressing its solidarity with Kashmiris and condemning the Indian atrocities in the Occupied Kashmir.
- The House referred the State Life Insurance Corporation (Re-Organization and Conversion) Bill, 2017 to the Joint Sitting. According to the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, a bill is referred to the Joint Sitting if it is not approved by one House of the Parliament within a period of 90 days after its approval from the other House. The referred bill was approved by the Senate with amendments and was not approved by the National Assembly.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up 13 out of 28 Starred Questions during the Question Hour. The lawmakers asked 20 supplementary questions as well.
- The House deferred a Calling Attention Notice regarding delay in the payment of compensation and allotment of plots to the affectees/land owners in Islamabad while another CAN about accountability of Karachi Electric (KE) and load-shedding in Karachi was not addressed.
- The House passed a motion to take up Private Members’ Agenda on Friday.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on two Points of Order consuming five minutes of the proceedings.
- MQM lawmakers staged a walkout against the K-Electric and load shedding in Karachi at 1347 hours and did not return to the proceedings till the adjournment of sitting.
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