ISLAMABAD, May 27, 2021: The National Assembly deferred 13 private members’ bills mostly due to absence of movers and left two resolutions unaddressed, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Thursday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during fifth sitting of 33rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for three hours and one minute; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 15 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 04:23 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.
• The Deputy speaker chaired the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
• The leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 69 (20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 74 (22 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six out of ten minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Twelve bills on the agenda were deferred due to absence of movers which were the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Memon University at Islamabad Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 489F and Schedule- II); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Articles- 11 and 25A); the Recusant Witnesses (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2021; the Children (Pledging of Labour) (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-185); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-84); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Article-25) and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• A bill – the Limitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 – was deferred due to the absence of relevant minister and Parliamentary Secretary.
• The Chair referred a private member’s bill – the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Bill, 2021 – to the relevant committee. It was moved by a PPPP lawmaker.
• Minister for Human Rights also moved an identical bill- the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021- which was also referred to the committee for deliberations.
• Two other private members’ bills including the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Preamble and Article-36) and the Minorities Access to Higher Education Bill, 2021 were referred to the relevant committees. These bills were moved by PML-N and PTI lawmakers, respectively.
• Four reports of standing committee on Human Rights and one each of National Food Security and Research and Parliamentary Affairs on six private members’ bills were presented in the House.
• A PTI lawmaker moved a motion seeking amendment in rule 203 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007 which was referred to the committee.
• The House did not consider two resolutions and an amendment in Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up seven out 21 starred questions while lawmakers asked 15 supplementary questions as well.

• Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum responded to a calling attention notice regarding cancellation of regional office of SNGPL in D.I. Khan. It was sponsored by a lawmaker belonging to MMAP lawmaker.
• The House did not take up three motions under rule 259, a matter of urgent public importance under Rule 87 and a calling attention notice.

Order and Institutionalization

• Seven lawmakers spoke on points of order for 31 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, May 28, 2021 at 11:00 am.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of the lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions excepted