ISLAMABAD, July 13, 2020:  The National Assembly (NA) on Monday left the legislative agenda unaddressed and started debate on the agricultural policy of the government, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 4^th sitting of 23^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for four hours and 50 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1644 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 50 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Leaders of House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 47 lawmakers (14%) were present at the outset and 41 (12%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA and PML-N attended the sitting.
• As many as five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House unanimously adopted a supplementary resolution to pay tribute to Kashmiris on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir) for their struggle against Indian illegal occupation of Indian Occupied Kashmir.
• Another resolution to make teaching of the Holy Quran with translation compulsory in educational institutions was also unanimously adopted by the House. The supplementary resolution was tabled in the House by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.
• The House did not consider three bills appearing on the agenda. The unaddressed bills were the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in sections 2, 6 and insertion of section 9A), the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in sections 2, 11O and insertion of section 11OOO) and the United Nations (Security Council) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Two periodical reports of Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony for the period January – June, 2019 and July – December, 2019 as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 were presented in the House.
• Three periodical reports of Standing Committees on Industries and Production; Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs and Postal Services for the period January – June, 2019 were presented in the House.
• Six other periodical reports of Standing Committees on Cabinet Secretariat, Water Resources, States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Information and Broadcasting, Parliamentary Affairs and Foreign Affairs for the period July – December, 2019 were presented in the House as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
• The House passed a motion for consideration of the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2020 in the joint sitting as the legislative proposal, sailing smoothly in National Assembly, was not passed by the Senate within ninety days of its laying in the Senate.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for National Food Security and Research moved a motion to discuss the agricultural policy of the government. He opened the debate on it and spoke for 27 minutes while eighteen lawmakers also expressed their views on this motion for two hours and 39 minutes.
• Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding closing of OPDs in Federal Government Hospitals in Islamabad for general public since March, 2020. The Chair also referred it to the relevant committee for deliberations.
• Another CAN regarding non-provision of electricity to Shaktor and other villages in South Waziristan was responded to by the Minister for Energy (Power Division).
• A motion under Rule 259 about the privatization policy of the government was not taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

• Thirteen lawmakers including Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs spoke on points of order for 47 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on July 14, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1600 hours.

 Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of 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 are excepted