ISLAMABAD, December 24, 2021: The National Assembly opened debate on Sialkot incident on Friday but was adjourned due to lack of quorum, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of the 39th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for 25 minutes.
• The sitting started at 11:34 am against the scheduled time of 11:00 am.
• The deputy speaker chaired the entire sitting in the absence of speaker.
• The leaders of the house (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.
• A newly elected PML-N lawmaker took oath.
• As many as 67 (20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 40 (12 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Four minority lawmakers were present.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed a motion to suspend regular agenda for discussion on Sialkot incident.
• Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary moved a motion under Rule 259 for debate on Sialkot incident. A PML-N lawmaker spoke on it for three minutes and demanded the presence of Minister for interior in the House during debate on it.

Order and Institutionalization

• A lawmaker belonging to PML-N pointed out the quorum at 11:54 am which was found incomplete upon counting.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, December 27, 2021 at 04:00 pm.

Transparency

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

 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