ISLAMABAD, December 13, 2012: The National Assembly, which met for an hour and 48 minutes during the fourth sitting of the 48^th session, presented a Standing Committee report on the Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Bill 2012 in the House.

However, the Gwadar Port Authority Bill 2012 was not taken up by the House.

The Speaker, the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and all the parliamentary leaders did not attend the sitting. The Deputy Speaker and a Member of Panel of Chairpersons chaired the sitting.

A Calling Attention Notice about delay in the establishment of Saraiki Department in Gomal University D.I. Khan despite release of funds to the Higher Education Commission, and another about theft of gas worth Rs. 16.5 billion from Sui Northern and Sui Southern systems during the current fiscal year were both not taken up by the House.

Twenty one Points of Order consumed 50 minutes of the sitting time.

Members’ participation in House proceedings

• The National Assembly met for an hour and 48 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1125 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours. The proceedings started 25 minutes late.
• A Member of Panel of Chairpersons chaired the sitting for 45 minutes while the remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker. The Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
• The Chief Whips of PPPP and PMLN were present.
• Twenty-Eight (8%) Members were present at the outset while there were 90 (26%) at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 112 Members were present at one point of the sitting.
• Six Minority Members attended the sitting.
• Six Members applied for leave.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Two Calling Attention Notices about delay in the establishment of Saraiki Department in Gomal University D.I. Khan despite release of funds to the H.E.C and theft of gas worth Rs. 16.5 billion from Sui Northern and Sui Southern systems during the current fiscal year were not taken up by the House.
• Ten out of 27 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant minister. Additionally, 18 Supplementary Questions were asked. 

• The House did not take up the Motion under Rule 259 about law and order in the country for further discussion.

 Output

• The Gwadar Port Authority Bill 2012 was not taken up by the House.
• A Standing Committee report on the Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Bill 2012 was presented in the House.

Order and institutionalization

• A total of 21 Points of Order consumed 50 minutes (46% of sitting time).
• 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 Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a Member organization of FAFEN.