ISLAMABAD, March 10, 2017: The National Assembly witnessed introduction of two bills regarding establishment of military courts including a constitutional amendment bill on Friday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during fifth sitting of the 40^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 50 minutes of which the proceedings remained suspended for 35 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1034 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for last 40 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the initial proceedings.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) and Leader of Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Forty-two lawmakers (12%) were present at the outset and 18 (5%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, ANP, JI, APML, QWP-S and NPP attended the sitting.

Output

• Minister for Law and Justice introduced the Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The House exempted these bills from referral to relevant standing committee. The lawmakers belonging to PPPP opposed both bills. Four lawmakers discussed these bills for 29 minutes.
• Moved by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as 15 out of 40 Starred Questions were responded to during the Question Hour.
• The House did not take up two Calling Attention Notices appearing on its agenda.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five lawmakers spoke on Points of Order consuming 20 minutes of the sitting.
• The members belonging to PTI staged walkout at 1205 hours against the abusive remarks of a PML-N legislator against PTI lawmaker’s family members. They did not return to the House till the adjournment of sitting.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1205 hours that led to the suspension of proceedings for 35 minute.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

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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.