NA Session Marked by Low Attendance, Multiple Walkouts

ISLAMABAD, April 30, 2015: The 21st session of the National Assembly was marked by thin attendance of lawmakers as the House witnessed multiple protests/walkouts and the introduction of four private bills, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The session, comprising seven sittings, started on April 20 and concluded on April 29, 2015. On average, each sitting started 26 minutes behind the schedule and lasted two hours and 37 minutes.

 
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FAFEN Forms Caucus on Parliamentary Reforms

ISLAMABAD, April 29, 2015: With the aim to strengthen democracy in the country, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has formed a caucus on parliamentary reforms which will work towards bringing necessary improvements in the parliamentary procedures. In this regard, the first meeting of the caucus – comprising various parliamentarians, journalists, civil society members and…

 
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POs Consume Half of National Assembly Sitting

ISLAMABAD, April 29, 2015: The last sitting of National Assembly’s 21st session was marked by thin attendance and nearly half of the proceedings’ time being consumed by points of order (POs), says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The sitting started 45 minutes behind the schedule with 81 lawmakers (24%) present at the start and…

 
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Low Attendance Persists in Sindh Assembly

ISLAMABAD, April 28, 2015: The Sindh Assembly continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The sitting started 60 minutes behind the schedule with 41 (24%) lawmakers present at the start and 57 (34%) at the time of adjournment. The House adopted three resolutions to pay tribute…

 
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NA Sitting Marked by Opposition, Women MPs’ Walkouts

ISLAMABAD, April 28, 2015: The sixth sitting of the National Assembly’s ongoing session was marked by low attendance and walkouts staged by opposition and women lawmakers against obstruction in release of development funds, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The sitting started 24 minutes behind the schedule with 52 (15%) members present at the…

 
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NA Condoles Tragedies in Nepal, Peshawar

ISLAMABAD, April 27, 2015: Starting 40 minutes behind the schedule, the fifth sitting of the National Assembly’s ongoing session was marked by low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Thirty-four members (10%) were present at the start of the sitting and 31 (9%) at the time of adjournment. The Prime Minister,…

 
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Balochistan Assembly: Question Hour Deferred Due to Ministers’ Absence

ISLAMABAD, April 27, 2015: The Balochistan Assembly was unable to take up a bill and questions appearing on its agenda as the relevant ministers failed to show up for the sitting on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The sitting started 37 minutes behind the schedule with 18 lawmakers (28%) present at the…

 
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Sindh Assembly Passes Two Bills, Adopts One Resolution

ISLAMABAD, April 27, 2015: The Sindh Assembly passed two bills and adopted a resolution amid low attendance on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Thirty-two (19%) legislators were present at the start of the sitting and 63 (38%) at the time of adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the…

 
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POs Consume 48% of Balochistan Assembly Sitting

ISLAMABAD, April 24, 2015: The third sitting of the Balochistan Assembly’s ongoing session was marked by thin attendance of lawmakers and a major part of the proceedings’ time was consumed by points of orders (POs), says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Friday. The sitting was marked by low attendance of members as 20…

 
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National Assembly Sitting Marked by Opposition’s Walkout

ISLAMABAD, April 24, 2015: The 4th sitting of the ongoing National Assembly’s session witnessed a walkout by opposition lawmakers against the unsatisfactory response by the relevant minister during the Question Hour, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The sitting was also marked by low attendance of members as 48 (14%) were present at the…

 
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