ISLAMABAD, February 27, 2013: Starting 50 minutes late, the eighth sitting of the 50th National Assembly session which met for two hours and 15 minutes on Wednesday witnessed low attendance of Members. Only 60 legislators were present at the outset and 61 were there at the adjournment.
The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and all parliamentary leaders did not attend the sitting.
A Calling Attention Notice about the power breakdown on 24th and 25th February 2013 in the country, a Motion under rule 259 regarding law and order, and the Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2012 were deferred.
A total of 19 Points of Order consumed 75 minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The National Assembly met for two hours and 15 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1150 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours. The proceedings started 50 minutes late.
- The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour. While the remaining time was presided over by the speaker and the Members of panel of Chairpersons.
- The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
- The Chief Whips of PPPP and ANP were present.
- Sixty (17%) Members were present at the outset while there were 61 (18%) at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 108 Members were present at one point of the sitting.
- Six Minority Members attended the sitting.
- Eight Members applied for leave.
Representation and Responsiveness
- One out of two Calling Attention Notices on vandalism of public parks in Islamabad was taken up. The other Calling Attention Notice about the power breakdown on 24th and 25th February 2013 in the country was deferred.
Output
- The Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2012 was deferred.
Order and institutionalization
- A total of 19 Points of Order consumed 75 minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
- There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day were available to legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
- The quorum visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the legislators.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a Member organization of FAFEN.