ISLAMABAD, February 12, 2015: The third sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s ongoing session was marked by presentation of five ordinances and low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The sitting started 69 minutes behind the schedule with 26 legislators (7%) present at the start and 98 (27%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting. Among parliamentary leaders, only the PPPP and JI leaders were present.
The Minister for Labour & Human Resource presented the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers)(Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Social Protection Authority Ordinance 2015 and the Lahore Arts Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.
The quorum was pointed out by a female lawmaker belonging to PML. However, it was found to be complete upon counting. Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 44 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1109 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- Twenty-six (7%) MPAs were present at the start and 98 (27%) at the end of the sitting.
- A maximum of 102 members (28%) were present at one point of the sitting.
- The sitting was entirely chaired by the Deputy Speaker in the absence of the Speaker.
- The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader were absent.
- Among parliamentary leaders, only the PPPP and JI leaders were present.
- Two out of eight minority members attended the sitting.
- No member applied for leave.
Output
- The Minister for Labour & Human Resource presented the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers)(Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Punjab Social Protection Authority Ordinance 2015 and the Lahore Arts Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Nine (32%) out of 28 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up during the sitting. In addition, the MPAs raised 25 supplementary questions.
- The House took up three adjournment motions regarding crop damage from water shortage in Jaranwala; a girl’s death after falling from an under-construction plaza in Lahore and non-allocation of land for graveyards in Union Councils 84 and 94 in Lahore.
- Four calling attention notices (CANs) addressed to the Home Department were not taken up due to the minister’s absence.
Order and Institutionalization
- Six points of order consumed four minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- The quorum was pointed out by a female lawmaker belonging to PML. However, it was found to be complete upon counting.
- No protests/walkouts/boycotts were witnessed.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
To download the document, click here
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.