ISLAMABAD, February 9, 2016: The Punjab Assembly adopted seven resolutions including six private members resolutions on Tuesday during eighth sitting of its 19th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 34 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1133 hours against the scheduled time 1000 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 two hours and 29 minutes.
- 27 MPAs (8%) were present at outset and 64 (17%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of JI and PPPP were present.
- Five minority members were present.
Output
- The House adopted seven private members’ resolutions as well as a supplementary resolution moved by the Provincial Law Minister.
- The resolutions adopted by the House urged the government to provide adequate security arrangements to educational institutions, make available angiography facilities in all District Headquarters Hospitals, name December 16 after the martyrs of APS, remove illegal signboards, regulate private school fees and amend laws to curb the trend of fake police cases. Meanwhile, the supplementary government resolution appreciated the recent reduction in petroleum prices and hoped for further decrease in the prices.
- The House deferred three resolutions while also rejected a resolution urging the federal government to exempt mosques from TV surcharge in electricity bills.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The government orally responded to eight out of 18 starred questions appearing on agenda while one question was disposed of due to absence of relevant member. The lawmakers also asked 19 supplementary questions. The House deferred the questions related to Department of Colonies due to absence of the concerned parliamentary secretary.
- The House deferred two adjournment motions submitted by an independent lawmaker and PTI MPAs.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on eight points of order consuming eight minutes of the proceeding.
- The House deferred a privilege motion of a lawmaker belonging to PTI regarding police officials’ misbehaviour.
- PTI lawmakers protested on floor of the House for six minutes against the government for not providing satisfactory answer to a question.
- Later, the entire Opposition protested on floor of the House for three minutes when the government opposed the motion of a supplementary by the Leader of the Opposition regarding petroleum prices. Following the protest, the Opposition benches also staged a one-minute token walkout.
- The Opposition parties once again staged walkout at 1406 hours against the amendments made in the resolution regarding petroleum prices.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
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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.