ISLAMABAD, August 11, 2015: Starting 18 minutes behind the schedule, the National Assembly continued to witness low attendance as only 14 legislators (4%) were present at the start and 18 (5%) at the time of adjournment during the 12^th sitting of its ongoing 24^th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

The quorum was visibly lacking during the entire sitting, however it was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers in the House. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 25 minutes.

The House witnessed introduction of two bills including the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015

(Amendment of Article 81), and the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Both bills were referred to relevant committees for further deliberations.

 Four bills sponsored by PML-N female lawmaker were deferred by the House due to her absence. These bills included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 11); the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2015; the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Employment of Children (Amendment) Bill 2015.

The House adopted two resolutions. The first resolution was regarding steps to control electricity pilferage while other supplementary resolution was about ensuring protection of minority rights in the country.

Tabled by MQM lawmaker, the House discussed a resolution for taking immediate steps for construction of new water reservoirs in order to control the shortage of water. Seventeen lawmakers- PML-N (5), MQM, PPPP, JI, PTI (two each) and one each by JUII-F, PkMAP, QWP and AMLP- spoke on it for 70 minutes.

Four other resolutions not taken up by the House were about marriage grant to federal government employees, reduction in load shedding during the summer season, making the LNG price deal public and elimination of smuggling.

Chairman Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented three reports on the Questions of Privilege moved by three lawmakers. The House did not consider the

Amendment in rule 192 of the rules of procedure.

Four motions under Rule 259 were dropped by the House due to absence of mover. These motions were about taking concrete steps to stop cross-border terrorist activities, delay in the construction of Islamabad New Airport, non-construction of Kala Bagh Dam and non-utilization of lands and assets of Railways.

One motion under Rule 259 about forming National Commission on Minorities was debated in the House. Seven lawmakers, two each from PTI and PML-N and one each from PPPP, MQM and JUI-F spoke on it for 22 minutes.

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 54 minutes
• The sitting started at 1048 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 52 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for 25 minutes.
• 14 members (4%) were present at the start and 18 (5%) at the end of the sitting. As many as 78 lawmakers (23%) were present at one point of the sitting
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, PML, PML-Z, APML and PTI did not attend the sitting
• Seven out of 10 minority members attended the sitting
• Thirteen members applied for leave

Output

• The House witnessed introduction of two bills including the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Amendment of Article 81), and the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Both bills were referred to relevant committees for further deliberations.
• The House adopted two resolutions. The first resolution was regarding taking steps to control electricity pilferage while other supplementary resolution was about ensuring protection of minority rights in the country.
• Tabled by MQM lawmaker, the House discussed a resolution for taking immediate steps for construction of new water reservoirs in order to control the shortage of water

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs); one regarding non-provision of the necessary facilities to Hujjaj by the Private Haj Tour Operators despite receiving heavy charges, and the other pertaining to discrimination in the allocation of development funds to the women parliamentarians.
• A motion under Rule 259 about forming National Commission on Minorities was debated by seven lawmakers including two each from PTI and PML-N and one each from PPPP, MQM and JUI-F for 22 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization 

• Six Points of Order consumed 11 minutes of the sitting

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others

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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 are excepted.