ISLAMABAD, July 30, 2015: With 17 (5%) lawmakers present at the outset and 34 (10%) at the time of adjournment, the National Assembly took up 88 percent agenda during its fourth sitting on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding dilapidated condition of Chakdarra to Mingora road and sluggish relief efforts after devastating rains in Sindh.

Chairman Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affair presented reports regarding the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

The House witnessed introduction of two bills including the Pakistan Halal Authority Bill 2015 and the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Bill 2015. Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.

The House adopted five resolutions seeking extension in period of five ordinances including the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Countervailing Duties Ordinance 2015, the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015 and the Publication of Laws of Pakistan (Regulation) Ordinance 2015.

Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination moved a motion of thanks to express gratitude to the President of Pakistan for his address to the joint session on June 4, 2015 whereas the authenticated copy of President’s address was also presented before the House.  The House did not take up a commenced motion under rule 259 regarding deaths in Sindh and other areas due to heat wave.

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 38 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1042 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 48 minutes while rest of the proceedings was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 52 minutes.
• 17 members (5%) were present at the start and 34 (10%) at the end of the sitting. As many as 107 lawmakers (31%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of APML and PML did not attend the sitting while parliamentary leaders of other parties were present.
• Six out of 10 minority members attended the sitting.
• Fifteen members applied for leave.

Output

• The House witnessed introduction of two bills including the Pakistan Halal Authority Bill 2015 and the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Bill 2015.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affair presented reports regarding the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
• The House adopted five resolutions seeking extension in period of five ordinances including the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Countervailing Duties Ordinance 2015, the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015 and the Publication of Laws of Pakistan (Regulation) Ordinance 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding dilapidated condition of Chakdarra to Mingora road and sluggish relief efforts by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) after devastating rains in Sindh.
• Eight out of 40 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers raised 14 supplementary questions.
• Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination moved a motion of thanks to express gratitude to the President of Pakistan for his address to the joint session on June 4, 2015.
• The same minister also laid an authenticated copy of President’s address.

Order and Institutionalization

• Twenty-one (21) points of order consumed 35 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

•  ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.