ISLAMABAD, October 17, 2018: The National Assembly held discussion on the country’s political situation while suspended its regular agenda on Wednesday, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the single-sitting third session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for four hours and 44 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 32 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1136 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Leader of House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of Opposition Leader attended the sitting for two hours and 57 minutes. He was released from National Accountability Bureaus custody to attend the sitting on production orders issued by the Speaker.
- As many as 190 lawmakers (56%) were present at outset and 91 (27%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, BAP, GDA, MMAP, BNP-M, PM and AMLP attended the sitting.
- As many as six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House adopted a motion to defer the agenda appearing on Orders of the Day. The agenda included two Calling Attention Notices and a motion of thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament.
- The House held a discussion on the accountability of political personalities and its implications. As many as eight lawmakers including the Leader of the Opposition participated in the discussion consuming three hours and 43 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- A lawmaker spoke on a point of order for three minutes.
- Two lawmakers spoke on as many points of personal explanation for three minutes.
- The House was prorogued sine die.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.
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.