ISLAMABAD, August 29, 2016: The Punjab Assembly passed three government bills providing for ban on child labour, relief for victims of terrorism and increase in pecuniary jurisdiction of District Appellate Courts on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings during sixth sitting of the 23rd session:
Members’ Participation
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 46 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1552 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and 19 minutes.
- Twenty-seven lawmakers (7%) were present at outset and 73 (19%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leader of PML-Z attended the sitting.
- Five minority members were present.
Output
- Provincial Law Minister presented the Annual Activity Reports of Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi Development Authorities, and Parks & Horticulture Authority Lahore for the year 2014-15.
- The House passed the Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Bill 2016, the Punjab Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Punjab Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill 2016. Ten lawmakers participated in the debate consuming 50 minutes of the proceedings.
Representation and Responsiveness
- As many as six out of 11 Starred Questions were responded to while three others were deferred and one was disposed of due to the absence of movers. The lawmakers also asked 15 Supplementary Questions.
- The House deferred two Adjournment Motions (AMs) submitted by lawmakers belonging to PTI and PML on the encroachments in Okara city and poor conditions of provincial health establishments.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on two Points of Order consuming three minutes of the proceedings.
- PTI lawmakers pointed out quorum twice at 1642 hours and 1759 hours. The Chair ordered to ring the bells after which the quorum was completed on both occasions.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Information on Members’ attendance (except for parliamentary functionaries) is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.
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.