Lack of quorum National in the National Assembly led to its adjournment. Only question hour could be completed.

ISLAMABAD, May 13, 2022: The National Assembly left its entire agenda unaddressed except question hour and was adjourned on Friday due to lack of quorum, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fifth sitting of 42nd session:

Lack of Quorum: Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for 59 minutes.
• The sitting started at 11:16 am against the scheduled time of 10:30 am.
• The deputy speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of speaker.
• The leader of the house (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 48 (14 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 38 (11 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leader of JWP attended the sitting.
• Four minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• The House did not consider legislative business, ten periodical reports and five reports of standing committees.

Lack of Quorum: Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up 15 out of 27 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 14 supplementary questions as well.
• The House did not take up two calling attention notices.

 Order and Institutionalization

• A GDA lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 12:13 am following which Chair directed for counting. The quorum was found incomplete and the House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, May 16, 2022 at 04:00 pm.

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