ISLAMABAD, January 7, 2016: The National Assembly transacted its entire business amidst protests and low attendance during fifth sitting of 28^th session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 51 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1036 hours against its scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 62 minutes.
• 23 MNAs (7%) were present at outset and 43 (13%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML, PML-Z, BNP, APML and PML-F were present.
• Eight minority members were present.
• Sixteen members applied for leave.

Output

• The Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presented the report of the committee on the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up seven out of 29 starred questions appearing on the agenda. The Members also asked 12 supplementary questions.
• The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to two Calling Attention Notices regarding non-completion of work of Fish Harbour at Gaddani Lasbela and non-approval of the PC-I of 7th Secondary Transmission Grid (STG) plan of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO).
• A lawmaker belonging to MQM spoke on the motion of thanks about the Presidential address for 9 minutes.
• The House, through a single motion, elected 19 members of the Standing Committee on Human Rights.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on 13 Points of Order consuming 40 minutes of the proceeding.
• The entire opposition and members belonging to PkMAP and JUI-F staged a walk-out at 1125 hours against the executive for not replying to the questions submitted by PkMAP MNAs as well as for providing wrong information in response to a question.
• A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1128 hours and the proceeding of the House was suspended at 1130 hours after counting.
• The proceeding resumed at 1148 hours with the return of opposition lawmakers to the House. However, members belonging to JUI-F did not return for rest of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on website of National Assembly.

 To download the fact sheet, click here for English Version – Click here for Urdu Version

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted