ISLAMABAD, December 17, 2013: Starting twenty-five minutes behind schedule, the 9th sitting of 7^th session of National Assembly met for three hours and 23 minutes and left 65 % agenda items unaddressed, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation.

Two bills seeking constitutional amendments in Article 51 and 106 and Article 51 and 59 were introduced in the House and sent to the relevant standing committee.

A resolution demanding of the government to take immediate steps to resolve issue of construction of dams by India on waters of Pakistan was tabled. Twenty-one legislators spoke on the resolution for two hours and 10 minutes.

Four resolutions calling the government for taking steps to control TB, AIDS and Hepatitis, doing away with gas load-shedding, controlling sectarian riots and decreasing the expenditures incurred on official as well private Hajj were not taken up.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-opening of Lawari Tunnel for three days in a week to facilitate passengers, traffic and supply of essential commodities while the second one related to the delay in commencement of construction work on Liyari Expressway, Karachi.

MQM legislators staged a token walkout for two minutes against the Local Government Ordinance in Sindh.

A total of 53 members, among the House of 340, were present at the outset while 95 were there at the adjournment of sitting.

The Prime Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition was there for an hour and 24 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of APML and AMLP attended the proceedings.

The House did not take up five motions under rule 259 regarding problems faced by people due to increasing corruption in the country, Government’s debt borrowing policy, corruption in Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, formula for fixing prices of petroleum products and financial impact on tax collection of Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) issued by the present government.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1055 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 25 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 50 minutes while the remaining proceedings were chaired by Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition remained present for an hour and 24 minutes.
• The Parliamentary leaders of AMLP and APML were present.
• Fifty three (53) members were present at the outset while 95 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 132 members were observed to be present at one point of sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Ten members applied for leave.

Output

• A resolution demanding the government to take immediate steps to resolve issue of construction of dams by India on waters of Pakistan was tabled. Twenty-one legislators participated in debate for two hours and 10 minutes.
• Two bills seeking constitutional amendments in Article 51 and 106 and Article 51 and 59 were introduced in the House and were sent to the relevant standing committee.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two calling attention notices. Sponsored by legislators of APML, JI PTI, PPPP and MQM members, these CANs were related to the non-opening of Lawari Tunnel for three days in a week to facilitate the passengers, traffic and supply of essential commodities and delay in the commencement of construction work on Liyari Expressway, Karachi.

Order and Institutionalization

• MNAs spoke on two points of order for four minutes.
• MQM legislators staged a token walkout against Local Govt. Ordinance in Sindh.

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