ISLAMABAD, June 29, 2020: The National Assembly passed the Finance Bill, 2020 after voice voting along with amendments, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) its Daily Factsheet on Monday.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 17th sitting of the 22nd session of NA:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for three hours and 55 minutes.
- The proceedings started at 1126 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for three hours and 21 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for 54 minutes.
- The Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
- A total of 133 lawmakers (39%) were present at the outset and 279 (82%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PML, BAP, MQM, JWP and MMA attended the sitting.
- Eight out of 10 minority lawmakers were also present during the proceedings.
Output
- Moved by the Minister for Industries and Production, the House passed the Finance Bill, 2020 after voice voting along with amendments.
- The Opposition challenged the passage of the `clause 9’ of the Finance Bill, 2020 through voice voting following which the Chair directed counting on it. One hundred and sixty (160) lawmakers voted in its favor and 119 lawmakers against it.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Five lawmakers including the Minister for Industries and Production participated in debate on the Finance Bill, 2020 consuming 53 minutes of the proceedings.
Order and Institutionalization
- The entire opposition walked out from the House for 13 minutes against the decision of the Chair who gave the floor to the Minister for Communications to respond speech of a PPPP lawmaker.
- Minister for Science and Technology protested for three minutes during the speech of PML-N Parliamentary Leader. He demanded the Chair not to allow political speech on point of order. The Rule 17 (1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007 says,” a point of order shall relate to the interpretation or enforcement of these rules or such Articles as regulate the business of the Assembly and shall raise a question which is within the cognizance of the Speaker”.
- Minister for Aviation and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan spoke on points of personal explanation for four and three minutes respectively.
- Five lawmakers including Ministers for Communication and Foreign Affairs spoke on points of order related to political matters. They consumed an hour and 20 minutes of the proceedings.
- The guideline of safe distancing to prevent spread of COVID-19 was minimum observed by the lawmakers in the House.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on June 30, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1100 hours.
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’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.