ISLAMABAD, March 6, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab passed the government bill the Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology Dera Ghazi Khan Bill, 2019 on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 11th sitting of the seventh session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for an hour and three minutes.
- The sitting started at 1305 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for 18 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
- The Leaders of the House and Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 70 MPAs (19%) were present at the outset and 98 (26%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- None of the parliamentary leaders attended the proceedings.
- As many as four out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- Moved by the Minister for Law, the House passed the Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology Dera Ghazi Khan Bill, The bill was introduced in the House on January 25, 2019 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Industries and Commerce which presented its report on March 01, 2019.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Minister for Social Welfare & Bait ul Mal responded to two out of five Starred Questions appearing on the agenda while remaining questions were disposed of due to absence of the movers. The lawmakers asked three supplementary questions as well.
- The Minister for Law responded to an Adjournment Motion regarding murder of a domestic worker in Lahore. The Motion was sponsored by a PTI lawmaker.
- The Ministers for Local Government and Health responded to a PPPP lawmaker’s two Zero Hour Notices (ZH) regarding sewerage system in Jampur and shortage of medicines in Assembly’s dispensary.
- The Minister for law responded to a PTI lawmaker’s ZH notice regarding aerial firing at a wedding ceremony in Sheikhupura. Another ZH notice was deferred due to absence of the relevant minister.
Order and Institutionalization
- As many as five lawmakers spoke on Points of Order for 12 minutes.
- The lawmakers belonging to PML-N staged one-minute protest against improper treatment of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in custody. The protesting lawmakers walked out from the proceedings at 1321 hours and did not return till its adjournment.
- A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1324 hours; however, it was found complete on headcount.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on March 07, 2019 (Thursday) at 1100 hours.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available on Punjab Assembly’s website.
- Information on Members’ attendance 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 regretted.