ISLAMABAD, April 15, 2016: The Punjab Assembly took an adjournment motion on Friday and discussed police operation in Rajanpur against notorious gang of criminals during 13th (last) sitting of its 20th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 59 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1038 hours against the scheduled time 0900 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 44 minutes.
- 23 MPAs (6%) were present at outset and 58 (16%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
- Four minority members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Sponsored by the Leader of the Opposition, the House took up an `out of turn’ adjournment motion about ongoing police operation in Rajanpur against gang of criminals. It was responded to by the Provincial Minister for Law.
- The government orally replied to seven out of nine starred questions appearing on the agenda. The lawmakers also asked 24 supplementary questions.
- Two PML-N lawmakers raised issues of public importance during zero hour regarding poverty ratio in country and charging of parking fee at Govt. Faridia College Pakpattan. However, these issues were kept pending and it was decided to take them up in any of the sitting in next session.
- The Opposition Leader and three PML-N lawmakers participated in debate on Annual Report of the Punjab Bait-ul-Maal for the year 2013. In all, they spoke for 14 minutes about it.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on ten points of order consuming nine minutes of the proceeding.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
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 regretted.