ISLAMABAD, December 18, 2017: The treasury benches could not ensure the presence of required number of legislators in the House, as Monday was the sixth day when the proceedings had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are key observations of the proceedings during eighth sitting of 50th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for two hours and nine minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 51 minutes due to lack of quorum.
- The sitting started at 1609 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 12 minutes while rests of the proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- Forty (12%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 84 (24%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The Parliamentary leader of PkMAP, APML, PPPP, QWP and ANP attended the sitting.
- Six minority members were present.
Output
- State Minister for Power tabled the Pakistan Power and Infrastructure Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which was passed by the House.
- Tabled by Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, the House passed the National Skills University Islamabad Bill, 2017.
- The House witnessed presentation of five periodical reports of various Standing Committees.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House did not observe the Question Hour.
- The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding excessive use of antibiotic and its uncontrolled sale which was responded to by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordiantion.
- Another CAN regarding non-commencement of work on Malakand tunnel was not considered by the House due to early adjournment of sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- Eleven lawmakers spoke on as many points of order for 37 minutes while the House observed one minute silence to express solidarity with the victims of terrorism act at Church in Quetta.
- Four legislators raised as many matters under Rule 18 consuming six minutes of the proceedings.
- The Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout at 1651 hours for not including FATA Reforms Bill on the agenda. They did not return to the House till adjournment of sitting at 1818 hours.
- A JI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1655 hours which led to the adjournment of the sitting for 51 minutes.
- A PML-N lawmaker also walked out of the House at 1811 hours over problems of sugarcane growers and did not return to the House till adjournment of sitting.
- A PPPP lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1814, subsequently head count was made. The quorum was not found incomplete and the Chair adjourned the House to meet again on Tuesday at 1600 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 except