ISLAMABAD, December 24, 2012: The 8th sitting of the ongoing 43rd Punjab Assembly suspended the regular agenda to debate the assassination of Bashir Ahmed Bilour – late senior minister, KP. The House unanimously adopted a Resolution condemning the suicide attack on the senior minister on December 22, 2012.
The sitting was also marked by low attendance as only 15 MPAs were present at the outset and 32 at the adjournment of the sitting.
None of the agenda items appearing on the List of Business – four treasury backed bills, two standing committee reports and a motion under rule 244A – was taken up.
Starting two hours and 25 minutes late, the entire sitting was chaired by the Speaker. The Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker and the parliamentary leader of PMLZ did not attend the sitting.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 37 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1725 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of two hours and 25 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker was absent.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML and MMAP were present while that of PMLZ was not present.
- Fifteen members were present at the outset while 32 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 52 members were present at one point of sitting.
- One minority legislator was present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Question Hour was not held.
Output
- A resolution condemning the assassination of KPK minister in a suicide attack was unanimously adopted by the house. A total of 30 MPAs spoke on the resolution.
- Four bills and two standing committee reports appearing on the List of Business were left unaddressed.
Order and Institutionalization
• There were no protests, boycotts or walkouts during the session.
Transparency
• List of Business was available to legislators, observers and others.
• Information about members’ attendance was unavailable to the observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN, a member organization of FAFEN.