National Assembly Approves Supplementary Budget 2018-19

ISLAMABAD, October 3, 2018: The National Assembly was prorogued on Wednesday after passing the Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill 2018, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during ninth and last sitting of second session:

Members’ Participation

  • The National Assembly met for three hours and nine minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1142 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
  • The Speaker presided over the sitting for three hours and six minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the proceedings for three minutes.
  • The Leader of House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for an hour and 29 minutes.
  • The Leader of Opposition Leader attended the sitting for an hour and 23 minutes.
  • As many as 197 lawmakers (58%) were present at outset and 255 (75%) at adjournment of the sitting.
  • The parliamentary leaders of MMAP, PML-N, GDA, PML, PPPP, AMLP, JWP, MQM and BAP attended the sitting.
  • As many as eight out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

  • Moved by the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, the House passed the Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill 2018 with majority vote following its clause-by-clause consideration. The lawmakers voted on Clause-2 of the bill by raising on their seats while the remaining clauses were voted upon through ‘Ayes and Nays’. As many as 158 lawmakers rose on their seats to support the the Clause-2 while 120 rose to oppose the clause. The House rejected the amendments moved on various clauses of the bill.
  • The House adopted an amendment to its Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business making it compulsory to play the National Anthem after the recitation of Naat before the commencement of each sitting. The amendment was moved by the Minister of State for Interior and was debated for four minutes by two lawmakers.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • Federal Minister for Petroleum responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding delay in gas supply to thirty-eight villages in district Karak. The House did not take up a CAN regarding increase in NADRA fee for issuance of Computerized National Identity Cards.
  • Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs concluded the discussion on the supplementary budget while a lawmaker participated in the discussion. The Leader of Opposition responded to the concluding remarks by the Minister. The discussion continued for 48 minutes.
  • Minister for Finance and the Leader of Opposition also spoke on points of personal explanation for eight and one minute, respectively.
  • As many as three lawmakers debated the recommendations made by the Senate on the Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill 2018. The debate continued for 57 minutes.
  • The House approved a motion to change the composition of Committee on election-rigging making it a parliamentary committee with representation of the Senate. The committee will comprise 30 lawmakers including 10 Senators.

 Order and Institutionalization

  • As many as three lawmakers spoke on points of order consuming three minutes.
  • The session 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.