Two Resolutions Adopted; Two Bills Introduced in National Assembly

ISLAMABAD, February 4, 2014: National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren during 7^th sitting of its 8^th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.

The resolution, tabled by JUI-F parliamentary leader, was adopted after ten legislators from PML-N, JI, PPPP, JUI-F, PkMAP, PTI and MQM held debate on it for 43 minutes.

Tabled by PPPP female lawmaker on December 17, 2013, the House adopted another commenced resolution demanding of the government to take immediate steps to resolve the issue of construction of dams by India on the waters of Pakistan.

PPPP lawmaker introduced the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, Act 1898 (Amendment in section 22) which was referred to the relevant Standing Committee.

Introduced jointly by five MQM legislators, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014 sought amendment in Civil Servants Act, 1973 (Amendment in section 19-A) and was referred to the relevant Standing Committee.

Another bill, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014, introduced by PML-N lawmaker regarding amendment in Civil Servants Act, 1973 (Insertion of new section 5A) was deferred.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs). The first CAN was related to delay in the completion of construction of Benazir Shaheed (Nishtar Ghat) bridge over River Sindh between Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur and the other was regarding misappropriation of billions of rupees of poor people in the garb of Mudarba companies.

PPPP lawmakers submitted an adjournment motion regarding gas and electricity load-shedding in the country. Five lawmakers debated the motion for seven minutes and House gave approval for its further discussion in any of the next sitting.

A total of 69 members were present at the outset while 39 were there at the adjournment of sitting.

The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 30 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, PkMAP, ANP, PML and PML-F attended the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 15 minutes. The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
• Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as Speaker was not present.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 30 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, PkMAP, ANP, PML and PML-F were present.
• Sixty-nine (69) members were present at the outset while 39 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 156 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Nine members applied for leave.
  

Output

• The House adopted two resolutions. The first resolution was adopted to express solidarity with the Kashmiris while the other demanded of the government to take immediate steps to resolve the issue of construction of dams by India on the waters of Pakistan.
• Three bills were introduced. Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2014 seeking amendment in the Code of Criminal Procedure, Act 1898 and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014 for amendment in Civil Servants Act, 1973 were referred to relevant Standing Committees, while the third bill, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014, regarding amendment in Civil Servants Act, 1973 was deferred.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• An adjournment motion regarding gas and electricity load-shedding in the country was approved for debate in any of the next sittings.
• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs). The first one was related to the delay in completion of construction of Benazir Shaheed (Nishtar Ghat) bridge over River Sindh between Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur and the other was regarding misappropriation of billions of rupees of poor people in the garb of Mudarba companies.

Order and Institutionalization

• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.
  

Transparency

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

 

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 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 excepted