ISLAMABAD, November 29, 2016: The National Assembly on Tuesday discussed gas load-shedding and non-utilization of Railways land in the country during Private Members’ Day, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during eighth sitting of the 37^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 50 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1045 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Speaker and the Leader of the House (Prime Minister) were absent.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 15 minutes.
• Forty-three lawmakers (13%) were present at outset and 77 (23%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The Parliamentary Leaders of PPPP, PkMAP, JI, QWP-S and ANP attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The Minister for Law introduced the Pakistan Climate Change Bill, 2016 in the House.
• Tabled by PPPP lawmaker, the House rejected the Law Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2015 with a majority vote.
• Tabled by PML-N lawmaker, the House deferred the Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 for one month.
• Tabled by MQM lawmaker, the House referred the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination for further deliberation.
• A Standing Committee report on a Private Member’s Bill was not taken up due to absence of the mover.
• Sponsored by a JUI-F female lawmaker, the House held discussion on a resolution relating to gas load-shedding in the country. Eleven lawmakers spoke on the resolution for 35 minutes.
• Five resolutions tabled by various members were not taken up despite their presence on the agenda.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by JUI-F lawmaker, the House held discussion on a motion under Rule 259 regarding non-utilization of Railways land. As many as 15 lawmakers, including the Minister for Railways, expressed their views for an hour and 15 minutes.
• Four motions under Rule 259 to discuss various issues of public importance were not taken up by the House.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding baseless allegations leveled by an anchor person of a private television channel against parliamentarians and non-provision of facilities to the Temporarily Dislocated Persons of South Waziristan.

Order and Institutionalization

• The Lawmakers spoke on 15 Points of Order consuming 39 minutes of the proceedings.
• The opposition parties protested for four minutes against the Chair for not allowing them to speak on a motion regarding non-utilization of Railways land.
• The lawmakers belonging to JI walked out of the House at 1427 hours against the Chair for not allowing a member of their party to convert his Point of Order into a Privilege Motion. They did not return to the House till its adjournment.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

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