ISLAMABAD, June 5, 2012: Starting two hours and 20 minutes behind schedule, the first sitting of Punjab Assembly’s 38^th session witnessed low attendance with 52 legislators present at the outset and only 27 when it was adjourned.

Additionally the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

Fourteen out of 32 questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 23 Supplementary questions were also asked.

The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was not pointed out by any of the legislators.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 40 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1720 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours. The proceedings started two hours and 20 minutes late.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PML and PMLF were present while those of PMLZ and MMAP were absent.
• A total of 52 Members (17% of the total Membership of 369) were present at the start while 27 (7%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Five minority Members were present.
• The House took a 30-minute break.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Fourteen out of 32 questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministries.
• Additionally, 23 Supplementary questions were also asked.

Output

• No Bills were taken up by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Twenty-eight Points of Order consumed 40 minutes of the sitting time. None of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was not pointed out by any of the Members.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN