ISLAMABAD, November 5, 2021: The National Assembly left 90 percent agenda unaddressed on Friday due to lack of quorum, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of the 38th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for 30 minutes.
- The sitting started at 11:22 am against the scheduled time of 10:30 am.
- The deputy speaker chaired 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 54 (16 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 45 (13 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- Parliamentary leader of PML-N and MMAP attended the sitting.
- Four minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House did not take up legislative business and a report of standing committee.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Moved by Minister for Law and Justice, the House passed a motion to allow the use of Chamber of the National Assembly November 8, 2021 for a briefing to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
- The House neither took up two calling attention notices nor a motion of thanks to President for his address to parliament on September 13, 2021.
Order and Institutionalization
- Parliamentary leader of PML-N spoke on a point of order for 14 minutes.
- A lawmaker belonging to PML-N pointed out the quorum at 11:46 am which was found incomplete upon counting and proceedings remained suspended for five minutes. On resumption of the proceedings, the quorum was incomplete and the House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 06:00 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