ISLAMABAD, March 5, 2014: The National Assembly debated a motion under rule 259 regarding National Internal Security Policy of the government on Wednesday during eighth sitting of its 9^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

Moved by Minister for Science and Technology, twelve legislators debated the motion for three hours and 25 minutes. Three PML-N members followed by two each of PPPP and JI and one each of PkMAP, JUI-F, PTI, MQM and ANP took part in the debate. The debate will continue for the next two sittings as the House suspended the agenda to discuss security policy of national importance.

Tabled by Minister for Science and Technology, the House passed The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to amend the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Ordinance, 1979.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for four hours and 10 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1115 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 45 minutes.  
• The House held a prayer break of 25 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 43 minutes while the Deputy Speaker presided over the rest of the proceedings.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 20 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, QWP, ANP, JUI-F and APML attended the sitting.
• One hundred and two members were present at the outset while 24 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 127 members were observed to be present at one point of sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• None of the members applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by Minister for Science and Technology, the House passed The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to amend the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Ordinance, 1979.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by Minister for Science and Technology, twelve legislators debated the motion on National Internal Security Policy for three hours and 25 minutes.
• Three PML-N members followed by PPPP and JI (2 each) and one each of PkMAP, JUI-F, PTI, MQM and ANP took part in the debate. The debate will continue for the next two sittings as the House approved to suspend agenda to discuss security policy of national importance.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators spoke on three points of order for five minutes.
• No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.

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.

 

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to 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 excepted