ISLAMABAD, November 18, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Punjab transacted its entire legislative business on Monday and adopted five resolutions for extension of as many Ordinances, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the first sitting of the 16th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 23 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 23 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1637 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
- The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for 42 minutes.
- As many as 120 MPAs (32%) were present at the outset and 65 (18%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- All parliamentary leaders of political parties having representation in the House were absent.
- As many as six out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- The House adopted five resolutions granting extension of ninety days to as many Ordinances. These Ordinances were the Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi Ordinance 2019; the University of Mianwali Ordinance 2019; the Punjab Public Private Partnership Ordinance 2019; the Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Ordinance 2019 and the Punjab Probation and Parole Service Ordinance 2019.
- Minister for Law laid three Ordinances in the House including the Punjab Agricultural Marketing Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2019; the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 and the Punjab Village Panchayats and Neighbourhood Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2019.
- Two bills including the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Companies Profits (Workers’ Participation) (Amendment) Bill 2019 were referred to the relevant committees with the direction to report back to the House within two months.
- The House passed three bills following recommendations of their relevant committees. These bills were the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2019; the Punjab Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill 2019 he Punjab Seized and Freezed Institutions (Madaaris and Schools) Bill 2019.
- The House granted extension of 60-day to a Special Committee for presentation of its report on a matter referred to it.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up 11 out of 24 Questions while the lawmakers asked 26 supplementary questions as well.
- Minister for Law responded to two Call Attention Notices (CANs) related to law and order.
Order and Institutionalization
- As many as four lawmakers spoke on Points of Order for 15 minutes.
- The opposition lawmakers staged a protest during the proceedings for two minutes against reliance of the government on Ordinances for legislation. Subsequently, they walked out of the House at 1833 hours and did not return till adjournment of the sitting at 1900 hour.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on November 19, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1500 hours
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available on Punjab Assembly’s website.
- 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