ISLAMABAD, August 1, 2019: The National Assembly left 90 percent of its agenda unaddressed on Thursday and referred seven private members’ bills to the relevant standing committees after their introduction, observers Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during second sitting of the 13th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for two hours and 35 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1707 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for 26 minutes.
- As many as 143 (42%) were present at the outset and 41 (12%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML, MMAP, GDA, MQM and PPPP attended the sitting.
- A newly elected PPPP lawmaker from NA-205 took the oath and signed the roll of members.
- As many as five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House witnessed introduction of seven private members’ bills which were referred to the relevant standing committees after their introduction in the House. These bills were the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Bill, 2019; the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the National Institute of Oceanography (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Export Processing Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Small Business Finance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- The House did not consider 58 other private members’ bills, five resolution and as many motions under rule 259, four reports of standing committees, two amendments to rules of procedure and conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007, two matters of urgent public importance and a Calling Attention Notice.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Minister for Energy responded to a CAN regarding award of $5.976 billion penalty against Pakistan in the Reco Deck case and committed to give in-camera briefing to the movers on it.
- The House took up six out of 25 starred questions related to the Ministries of Energy (Petroleum Division), Communication and Foreign Affairs. In addition, the lawmakers asked 13 supplementary questions as well.
- A newly elected lawmaker made his maiden speech in the House after taking oath and spoke for six minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- As many as three lawmakers spoke on Points of Order consuming 13 minutes of the proceedings.
- PPPP lawmakers protested during the proceedings for three minutes against non-issuance of production orders of the detained lawmakers.
- A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1938 hours which led to the adjournment of the sitting after count.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on August 2, 2019 (Friday) at 1100 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.
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.