ISLAMABAD, March 31, 2014: The National Assembly debated prevailing law and order in the country during 6^th sitting of the 10th session on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.

Minister for Science and Technology tabled a motion under Rule 259 for holding debate on law and order requesting the Chair to suspend the question hour and calling attention notices (CANs) on the agenda.

Twelve lawmakers belonging to PML-N, MQM, JI, JUI-F, PPPP and PTI debated the motion for two hours (51% of total sitting time). Minister for Information and Broadcasting concluded the debate.

Introduced by Minister for Science and Technology, the House passed the Surveying and Mapping Bill, 2013 with majority, however, the PTI opposed it.

PML-N lawmaker presented the report of the Standing Committee on the Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to amend the Service Tribunals Act, 1973 after the House gave approval to condone the delay in presentation of the report.

A total of 100 members were present at the outset while 38 were there at the adjournment of sitting. A maximum of 136 members were observed to be present at one point of sitting.

The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting while parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, APML, JI, AMLP, ANP and QWP were present.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 54 hours. The sitting started at 1725 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 25 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
•  The House had a prayer break of 26 minutes.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, APML, JI, AMLP, ANP and QWP were present.
• One hundred (100) members were present at the outset while 38 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 136 members were observed to be present at one point of sitting.
• Eight minority members attended the sitting.
• None of the members applied for leave.
  

Output

• Introduced by Minister for Science and Technology, the House passed the Surveying and Mapping Bill, 2013 with majority, however, the PTI opposed it.
• PML-N lawmaker presented the report of the Standing Committee on the Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to amend the Service Tribunals Act, 1973 after the House gave approval to condone the delay in presentation of the report.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House debated motion under Rule 259 regarding prevailing law and order in the country for two hours.
• Twelve lawmakers participated in the debate. Five PML-N legislators debated the motion for 43 minutes, followed by two lawmakers of PTI and PPPP (31 and 21 minutes respectively), one lawmaker of MQM (15 minutes) and one legislator of JI and JUI-F (5 minutes each).
• The House did not take up two CANs regarding exclusion of Kasur, Depalpur, Pakpattan and Multan from the proposed route of Lahore-Karachi Motorway and telecasting of obscene musical programmes on private channels wherein young boys and girls dance and sing in the name of Pakistan Idol.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators spoke on four matters under Rule 18 for 39 minutes.

• 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