ISLAMABAD, June 22, 2015: The National Assembly approved 49 demands for grants on Monday and rejected all the cut motions in the absence of opposition lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 26 minutes behind the schedule with 59 members (17%) present at the start and 96 (28%) at the time of adjournment. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader and Finance Minister were present for nearly the entire duration.

The House approved 22 demands for grants for the Cabinet Division, followed by the Interior Ministry (11) and the Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (four each). In addition, two demands each against the Ministry of Water and Power and Ministry of National Food Security and Research were also approved during the sitting.

The sitting also witnessed a walkout by the entire Opposition against load shedding across the country.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for 77 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1126 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker was also present.
• 59 members (17%) were present at the start and 96 (28%) at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 153 members (45%) attended the proceedings.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• The Opposition Leader attended the sitting for 73 minutes.
• The Finance Minister was present for 75 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of AMLP, ANP, JI, APML, MQM, QWP and PML-Z were present.
• Five minority members attended the proceedings.
• Eight members applied for leave.

Output

• The House approved 49 demands for grants and rejected the cut motions moved by the opposition parties in their absence.
• Twenty-two demands were related to the Cabinet Division, followed by the Interior Ministry (11) and the Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (four each).
• The House also approved two demands each for the Ministry of Water and Power and Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised nine points of order that consumed 38 minutes of the sitting.
• The quorum was pointed out by a PPPP lawmaker at 1225 hours but was found to be complete upon counting.
• The sitting witnessed a one-minute token protest by JI, ANP and PTI lawmakers against load shedding across the country.
• The entire Opposition walked out of the House on the same issue at 1210 hours and did not return to the House till the sitting’s adjournment.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.