ISLAMABAD, May 22, 2014: The Punjab Assembly passed three bills during 5th sitting of the 8th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the House.
Introduced by the Provincial Minister for Law, the House passed the Punjab Livestock Breeding Bill 2014, the Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2014.
Punjab Livestock Breeding Bill, 2014 aims to regulate the livestock breeding services in the Province, the Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014 seeks amendment in the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974 and Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2014 seeks to amend the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006.
The opposition parties recorded their protest for 19 minutes for not getting permission to move an adjournment motion against the Deputy Speaker regarding ousting of Haris from a village in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours.
- The sitting started at 1120 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 20 minutes.
- There were 50 members at the outset and 132 at the adjournment of sitting.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting as the Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 20 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and JI attended the sitting.
- Five minority members were present.
Output
- Introduced by the Provincial Minister for Law, the House passed the Punjab Livestock Breeding Bill 2014, the Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2014.
- Report on Rahim Yar Khan University of Engineering and Technology Bill, 2014 was laid in the House.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Twelve of 35 starred questions (requiring oral answers as well) on the Orders of the Day were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, members asked 27 supplementary questions.
- Sponsored by PTI female lawmaker, the House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding Rs 2 million dacoity in Baghban Pura Lahore.
- Ten adjournment motions were raised on the floor relating to a variety of local issues, however, they have not been debated upon.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers raised six points of order consuming three minutes of the sitting.
- The opposition parties recorded their in-House protest for 19 minutes for not getting permission to move an adjournment motion against the Deputy Speaker regarding ousting of Haris from a Dera Ghazi Khan village.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
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The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN