ISLAMABAD, February 4, 2021: The 28^th Session of National Assembly was prorogued on Thursday without any significant development on the 26^th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020 mainly related to the conduct of Senate elections through open ballot, observers Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during eighth sitting of the 28th session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 16 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 13 minutes due to a prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1130 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
• The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Fifty-two (15%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 69 (20%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JWP, BAP, GDA and MMAP attended the sitting.
• Six minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs laid the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 and introduced the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, as well.
• The House did not consider two other bills as reported by the relevant standing committees, a motion of thanks to the President, seven periodical reports, three statutory reports and a Calling Attention Notice.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Parliamentary Secretary for Finance responded to a Calling Attention Notice regarding non-provision of relief to consistently drought-affected smallholder farmers of Thal area.
• The House took up nine out of 43 starred questions appearing on the agenda while lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions.
• Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability and a PPPP lawmaker spoke on the 26^th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020 for an hour and 22 minutes. However, treasury and opposition members protested against each other during their speeches.

Order and Institutionalization

• Three lawmakers including Ministers for Foreign Affairs spoke on points of order for four minutes.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1233 hours, however, it was ignored by the Chair.
• Another PPPP lawmaker and Minister for Science and Technology pointed out quorum at 1240 hours and 1414 hours, respectively soon after walkout by the opposition and government lawmakers from the House but it was found complete on both occasions. The Opposition returned to the House after five-minute walkout, however, the treasury lawmakers except cabinet members returned after 29 minutes.
• A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1442 hours following which the Chair ordered for counting. The quorum was found incomplete and the Chair announced to prorogue the session.

Transparency

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

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