ISLAMABAD, October 21, 2014: Starting 62 minutes behind schedule, the 2nd sitting of the ongoing session of the Punjab Assembly continued to witness low attendance of the MPAs as only 37 were present at the outset of the sitting while 38 were there at the adjournment says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The House adopted three resolutions regarding the issuance of blue passports to Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretaries of Punjab Assembly Secretariat, against use of drugs and ban on broadcasting video footages of rape victims at all television channels.
The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 58 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1102 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours witnessing a delay of 62 minutes.
- Thirty-seven members (10% of the total membership) were present at the outset while 38 were there at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 92 members (25%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for 72 minutes, while the remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- Only the parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
- Two minority members were present.
- None of the members applied for leave.
Output
- Tabled by the Provincial Minister for Law, the House adopted a resolution for issuance of blue passport to Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretaries of Punjab Assembly Secretariat.
- The House also adopted a resolution against the use of drugs.
- Another resolution adopted by the House was regarding the ban on broadcasting video footages of rape victims at all television channels. It was tabled by PML-N female lawmaker.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Five out of 28 starred questions appearing on the agenda were answered by the relevant ministries. A total of 14 supplementary questions were asked.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised eight points of order consuming 19 minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- A PPPP lawmaker walked out of the House, twice, for not getting the permission to speak on a point of order.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN.