ISLAMABAD, May 16, 2018: The National Assembly could not proceed to take up its entire regular agenda regarding approval of demands for grants amidst lack of quorum on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during the 12th sitting of the 56th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for four hours and three minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 28 minutes due to lack of quorum.
- The sitting started at 1046 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for 29 minutes, Deputy Speaker for two hours and 50 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 33 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 56 (16%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of QWP, JI, JUI-F, APML and PML-Z attended the sitting.
- Five minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House approved 35 demands for grants related to various ministries and departments while cut motions on these demands for grants were either rejected by the House or withdrawn by their respective movers.
- Another 23 demands for grants could not be considered due to quorum issue.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers spoke on 17 points of order consuming an hour and 37 minutes of the proceedings. Most of these points of orders were regarding proposed merger of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while others were mainly about announcement of a PML-N lawmaker to resign from the membership of National Assembly, power break down in the most parts of the country and issue of protesting journalists.
- A lawmaker belonging to PTI pointed out the quorum at 1229 hours but it was found complete upon counting.
- The Opposition lawmakers walked out of the House at 1416 hours when the Chair did not allow one of the legislator to speak on a point of order. They did not return to the House till adjournment of sitting at 1449 hours.
- Another PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1417 hours following which the Chair ordered the headcount that led to the suspension of the proceedings for 28 minutes. The sitting resumed at 1448 hours but had to be suspended due to presence of less than 25 percent lawmakers in the House.
- The sitting was adjourned to meet again on May 17, 2018 (Thursday) at 1030 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.