ISLAMABAD, April 4, 2014: Starting 30 minutes behind schedule, the 9th sitting of the 10th session of National Assembly was adjourned due to lack of quorum after meeting for an hour and 25 minutes on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
The House did not take up any of the agenda items, including two calling attention notices (CANs) and introduction and passage of the Services Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting. The Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and QWP were present.
Fifty-three members were present at the outset while 26 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 117 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:
- The National Assembly met for an hour and 25 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- The Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and QWP were present.
- Fifty-three members were present at the outset while 26 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 117 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- Three minority members attended the sitting.
- Seventeen members applied for leave.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House did not take up two CANs appeared on the agenda. The first CAN was about non-enhancing the civilian quota for admissions in Cantonments F.G. Schools in proportion to their population and non-establishment of college therein while the other CAN was regarding non-repairing of Sheikh Muhammadzai Grid Station and the consequent non-supply of electricity to the Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Kohat Division.
- The relevant minister responded to nine of 34 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Additionally, lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- PTI legislator pointed out lack of quorum at 1206 hours. The Deputy Speaker ordered for the count and the quorum was found incomplete. The Chair again ordered for the recount and the House was found incomplete. Later the sitting was adjourned to meet again on Monday.
- No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI); a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions excepted