ISLAMABAD, June 16, 2021: The National Assembly failed to discuss federal budget 2021-22 and the sitting was adjourned amid confrontation between treasury and opposition lawmakers, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during seventh sitting of the 34th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 30 minutes, however, the proceedings remained suspended two hours and six minutes due to protest.
- The proceedings started at 03:50 pm against the scheduled time of 02:00 pm.
- The speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The deputy speaker was not present.
- The leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The opposition leader remained present for 13 minutes during the proceedings.
- A total of 95 lawmakers (28 percent) were present at the outset and 101 (30 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of MMAP, PPPP, BAP, PML and GDA attended the sitting.
- Seven out of 10 minority lawmakers were also present during the proceedings.
Output
- The speaker sought six names each from the opposition and treasury benches for a parliamentary committee that would decide conduct for budget sessions.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The leader of the opposition debated federal budget 2021-22 for ten minutes but could not complete his speech amid protest in the House.
Order and Institutionalization
- The treasury lawmakers protested during the speech of opposition leader.
- The House witnessed confrontation and exchange of hot words between the treasury and opposition benches. A PTI lawmaker was injured after being hit by a bottle thrown at him following which the Chair had to adjourn the House to meet again on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm.
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’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions excepted