ISLAMABAD, May 19, 2015: The Punjab Assembly adopted ten resolutions on Tuesday as the House continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The sitting started 52 minutes behind the schedule with 31 (8%) members present at the start and 42 (11%) at the time of adjournment. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting. However, the Opposition Leader was present for 65% of the proceedings’ time.
The adopted resolutions dealt with various issues of health, transport, governance and disaster management.
The sitting also witnessed a three-minute protest by the entire opposition against a PML-N lawmaker’s criticism towards PTI’s style of politics.
Following are some key observations of the assembly business:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hour and 35 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1052 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- 31 members (8%) were present at the start and 42 (11%) at the time of adjournment.
- A maximum of 75 (20%) members were present at one point of the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and eight minutes.
- The remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Opposition Leader was present for one hour and 40 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of JI and PPPP attended the sitting.
- Four out of eight minority members were present.
- Fourteen members applied for leave.
Output
- The House adopted ten resolutions on various issues of health, transport, governance and disaster management.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up 13 out of 27 questions appearing on the agenda, while the lawmakers raised another 38 supplementary questions during the sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised 13 points of order that consumed nine minutes of the sitting.
- The sitting witnessed a three-minute protest by the entire opposition against a PML-N lawmaker’s criticism towards PTI’s style of politics.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.
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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.