ISLAMABAD, May 24, 2017: The National Assembly approved the amendments made in the Companies Bill, 2017 by the Senate and referred three bills to the relevant standing committees on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of the 43rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 46 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1642 hours against the scheduled time of 1630 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 10 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of proceedings.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 46 minutes.
• Fifty-two lawmakers (15%) were present at the outset and 60 (18%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, JI, PML-F, QWP-S, APML, PML-Z, ANP and AMLP attended the sitting.
• Seven minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Minister for Parliamentary Affairs introduced the Juvenile Justice System Bill, 2017.The House referred the bill to the relevant standing committee.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented the report of the committee on the Public Interest Disclosures Bill, 2017.
• On behalf of the Chairman Standing Committee on Commerce, Minister for Law and Justice presented the report of the committee on the Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
• The House passed the amendments made in the Companies Bill, 2017 by the Senate. Eight lawmakers debated the bill for 42 minutes.
• The House approved a motion to take up Private Members’ bills as supplementary business.
• The House referred two bills of a JUI-F lawmaker to the relevant standing committees. These bills included the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) 2017 (Amendment of sections 273, 274 and 275) and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) 2017 (Amendment of section 323).
• The National University of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was withdrawn by the concerned lawmaker.
• The House did not take up three Private Members’ bills due to absence of the concerned lawmakers.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by a PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted a motion to suspend the rules regarding Calling Attention Notices and Question Hour during the remaining session.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding unsung heroes of Hazara and Qalat whose sacrifices caused inclusion of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and financial benefits of the council staff of the government ministries.
• Ten lawmakers expressed their views about the deceased PkMAP lawmaker Abdul Rahim Mandokhel. The discussion continued for 34 minutes.
• The House adopted a minute’s silence for the victims of Manchester attack.
• Five lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance under Rule 18 consuming nine minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on 12 Points of Order consuming 15 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

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