ISLAMABAD, February 20, 2018: The National Assembly passed five bills on Tuesday including two government bills moved as supplementary agenda, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during seventh and last sitting of the 52nd session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for four hours and 29 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1035 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and four minutes, the Deputy Speaker for two hours and 20 and a member of the Panel of Chairpersons for an hour and five minutes.
- The Leaders of the House and the Opposition were not present.
- As many as 23 (7%) lawmakers were present at the outset and eight (2%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PkMAP, JI, APML, AJIP, PML, PML-Z and QWP attended the sitting.
- As many as six minority members were present.
Output
- A JUI-F lawmaker introduced the Minorities Access to Higher Education Bill, 2018. The House referred the bill to the relevant standing committee for further deliberations.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Interior presented the reports of the committee on the Federal Witness Protection Bill, 2015, the Religious Scholars, Ulema and Pesh Imams (Prayer Leaders) Welfare Bill, 2017 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage presented the report of the committee on the Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014.
- Chairperson Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs presented the report of the committee on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
- Chairman Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination presented the report of the committee on the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
- The House passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (section 489F), the Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2017. The lawmakers belonging to MQM and PPPP moved these bills.
- The House adopted two private members’ resolutions recommending the government to take steps to control price of life-saving drugs and curb the spread of the Tubercle Bacillus (TB), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Hepatitis in the country.
- Moved by the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination as supplementary agenda, the House passed the Health Services Academy (Restructuring) Bill, 2017 and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2017.
- The House did not take up the amendments proposed to the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2007.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House addressed two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding the report of the Joint Investigation Team on alleged involvement of a minister in Zainab’s murder case and proposed privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
- The House did not take five Motions under Rule 259.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on 31 Points of Order (POs) consuming two hours and 33 minutes of the proceedings. They discussed the political issues and the matters related to the judiciary through POs.
- The session was prorogued sine die after transaction of its business.
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.