ISLAMABAD, March 14, 2013: The National Assembly unanimously adopted four resolutions in the last sitting of the 50^th session, which met for six hours and 10 minutes on Thursday. The session is prorogued after meeting for 19 days.

Congratulating for completing the five year term, the members made farewell speeches for five hours and 50 minutes.

The House adopted resolutions to show sympathy with the Kashmir cause, pay tribute to Benazir Bhutto for her struggle and sacrifices for democracy, condemn the practices of discouraging girl child education, and calling upon the upcoming parliaments to continue and support the Women Parliamentary Caucus.

The Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development, and the Special Committees on Energy Crisis and Media Personnel presented their reports before the House.

The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 55 minutes whereas the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for six hours and 10 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1218 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours, witnessing a delay and hour and 18 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 52 minutes, the Deputy Speaker for an hour and five minutes while the remaining proceedings were chaired by a member of the Panel of the Chairpersons.
• The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 55 minutes whereas the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

• The parliamentary leader of MQM, NPP and MMAP were present whereas those of, ANP, PML, PMLF, BNPA and PPPS were absent.

• The chief whips of PPPP, ANP, and PML attended the sitting whereas those of MQM, PMLN, MMAP, and PMLF were not present.
• Ninety members were present at the outset while 11 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 145 members were present at one point of sitting.
• Nine minority members attended the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.

 

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Question Hour was suspended.

• Congratulating for completing the five year term, the members made farewell speeches for five hours and 50 minutes.

 

Output

• The House unanimously adopted four resolutions, which were tabled as supplementary agenda. These were to show sympathy with the Kashmir cause, pay tribute to Benazir Bhutto for her struggle and sacrifices for democracy, condemn the practices of discouraging girl child education, and calling upon the next government to maintain and support the Women Parliamentary Caucus.
• Three committee reports were presented before the House. The Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development presented its report on the National Institute of Science and Technical Education (Islamabad) Bill 2012; the Special Committee on Energy Crisis presented its report about the reasons leading to the current power crisis in the country and the steps to alleviate the power shortage; and the Special Committee on Media Personnel presented report about the issue of threats to journalists and media personnel.

 

Order and Institutionalization

• No incident of protest, walkout, or boycott observed 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.

 

The 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