ISLAMABAD, May 16, 2017: The National Assembly referred 12 Private Members’ bills to the relevant standing committees while leaving resolutions and motions under rule 259 unaddressed on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of the 42^nd session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 47 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1036 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• Forty-four lawmakers (13%) were present at the outset and 40 (12%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI and PML-Z attended the sitting.
• Seven minority members were present.

Output

• The House passed the Senate Secretariat Services Bill, 2017 after clause by clause reading.
• The House witnessed introduction of 12 Private Members’ bills which were forwarded to the relevant committees for further deliberations. The introduced bills included the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the Islamabad Birthing Centre and Hospital Maternity Services Bill 2017; the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the National Centre for Countering Violent Extremism Bill, 2017; the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill; 2017, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2013; the Domestic Workers (Employment Rights) Bill, 2016 and two bills with the name of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
• Five bills were deferred and as many were rejected while three bills were withdrawn by their respective movers and one was dropped due to mover’s absence.
• Tabled by Minister for SAFRON, the House adopted a supplementary resolution to condemn killing of laborers in Gwadar and Kharan.
• The House did not take up five resolutions appearing on the agenda.
• The House referred three amendments to its Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business to the relevant committee.
• The House witnessed presentation of 11 reports of the Standing Committees on Interior and Narcotics Control; Parliamentary Affairs; Law and Justice; and Defence.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding excessive prescription and use of antibiotics and insufficient number of seats for admission of students in the Model Schools and Colleges in Islamabad.
• The House did not take up five motions under Rule 259 appearing on Orders of the Day.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised eight Points of Order that consumed 33 minutes of the proceedings.
• The House took up three matters of public importance under Rule 18 consuming six minutes.

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