ISLAMABAD, February 16, 2018: The Punjab Assembly adopted a supplementary resolution on Friday paying its gratitude to the deceased lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 13th sitting of the 34th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 54 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 19 minutes during the Question Hour.
- The sitting started at 0945 hours against the scheduled time 0900 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 37 minutes.
- As many as 36 MPAs (10%) were present at outset and 53 (14%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- None of the parliamentary leaders were present during the proceedings.
- As many as five minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- The government introduced the University of Sialkot Bill 2018 and University of Narowal Bill 2018 in the House. The bills were referred to the relevant standing committees.
- The House did not take up the remaining legislative agenda due to lack of quorum.
- The House adopted a supplementary resolution paying its gratitude to the deceased lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir.
- The Standing Committee on Law presented a report before the House.
Representation and Responsiveness
- As many as 10 out of 26 Starred Questions were taken up for answers during the proceedings while two Starred Questions were deferred and six were disposed of due to absence of the concerned lawmakers. The lawmakers also asked 23 supplementary questions. The Question Hour proceedings remained suspended for 19 hours due to absence of the concerned ministerial secretary in the galleries.
- The House deferred a PML lawmaker’s Adjournment Motion.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised five of Order consuming seven minutes of the proceedings.
- A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1132 hours. The Chair ordered to ring the bells for five minutes; however, the quorum was found incomplete even after the bells and the sitting was adjourned.
- The House was adjourned to meet again at 1400 hours on Monday.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- 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.