ISLAMABAD, April 28, 2015: The sixth sitting of the National Assembly’s ongoing session was marked by low attendance and walkouts staged by opposition and women lawmakers against obstruction in release of development funds, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 24 minutes behind the schedule with 52 (15%) members present at the start and 61 (18%) at the time of adjournment. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for 35 minutes.

Four bills – namely the Law Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment Bill) 2015 – were introduced and referred to the relevant standing committees. However, the House rejected the Indus River Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 which was opposed by State Minister for Water and Power.

The House also took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Metro Bus Project in Islamabad.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for 101 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1054 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 42 minutes.
• The remaining proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 35 minutes.
• 52 (15%) members were present at the start and 61 (18%) at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 125 (37%) lawmakers attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, MQM, BNP, AMLP, ANP, QWP and PML-Z were present.
• Seven out of 10 minority members attended the sitting.
• 31 members applied for leave.

Output

• The Law Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment Bill) 2015 were introduced and referred to the relevant standing committees.
• The House rejected the Indus River Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 which was opposed by State Minister for Water and Power.
• Amendments to Rules 48, 69, 112 and Sub -rule (1) of Rule 200 of the National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure were referred to the relevant standing committee.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Metro Bus Project in Islamabad.

Order and Institutionalization

• Seventeen points of order consumed 36 minutes of the sitting.
• Women parliamentarians walked out of the House at 1208 hours to protest the obstruction in release of development funds for MNAs. They were joined by the opposition lawmakers, who also left the House against at 1225 hours and did not return till the sitting’s adjournment.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was not available on the National Assembly’s website.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. 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 regretted.