ISLAMABAD, April 1, 2014: The National Assembly adopted two resolutions and witnessed the introduction of a bill during the 7^th sitting of 10th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.

Tabled by four JI legislators, including a female member, the House adopted a resolution urging the government to take immediate steps to impose a ban on telecasting immoral programs on private and public television channels.

The House also adopted a resolution, tabled by a PPPP female lawmaker, demanding the government take steps to improve and regulate madressah education.

Another PPPP female legislator tabled a resolution seeking lifting of a ban on video-sharing website YouTube, however, the state minister for parliamentary affairs opposed it and the resolution was deferred for discussion until the next Private Member’s Day.

The state minister for parliamentary affairs introduced the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2014 to amend the State Bank of Pakistan Act 1956 which was referred to the relevant committee.

The House took up two motions under Rule 259 for debate. The first motion was regarding an increase in the limit of house-building advance for government employees. A total of eight legislators – PML-N (5) and one each of PTI, JUI-F and MQM – spoke on it for 13 minutes.

Another motion under Rule 259 debated by the House was regarding steps being taken by the government to completely eradicate polio. Fifteen legislators – three each of PML-N and PPPP, two each of PkMAP and MQM and one each of JI, JUI-F, PTI, QWP and an independent lawmaker – took part in the debate for 80 minutes.

Sponsored by five PML-N legislators, the House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding exclusion of Kasur, Depalpur, Pakpattan and Multan from the proposed route of Lahore-Karachi Motorway. Another CAN, sponsored by four JI legislators was also taken up, which was about telecasting an obscene musical program on private channels.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for three hours and six minutes. The sitting started at 1050 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 20 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 10 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, APML, JI, AMLP, and QWP were present.
• Forty-five members were present at the outset while 52 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 124 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Seven minority members attended the sitting.
• Eighteen members applied for leave.
  

Output

• Tabled by four JI legislators, including a female member, the House adopted a resolution urging the government to take immediate steps to impose a ban on telecasting immoral programs on private and public television channels.
• The House also adopted a resolution tabled by a PPPP female lawmaker demanding the government take steps to improve and regulate madressah education.
• The state minister for parliamentary affairs introduced the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2014 to amend the State Bank of Pakistan Act 1956 which was referred to the relevant committee.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a motion under Rule 259 for debate regarding an increase in the limit of house-building advance for government employees. A total of eight legislators – PML-N (5) and one each of PTI, JUI-F and MQM – spoke on it for 13 minutes.
• Another motion under Rule 259 debated by the House was regarding steps being taken by the government to completely eradicate polio. Fifteen legislators – three each of PML-N and PPPP, two each of PkMAP and MQM  and one each of JI, JUI-F, PTI, QWP and an independent lawmaker – took part in the debate for 80 minutes.
• Sponsored by five PML-N legislators, the House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding exclusion of Kasur, Depalpur, Pakpattan and Multan from the proposed route of Lahore-Karachi Motorway. Another CAN, sponsored by four JI legislators was also taken up, which was about telecasting an obscene musical program on private channels.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators spoke on 17 matters under Rule 18 for 25 minutes.

• The sole member of AMLP left the sitting claiming absence of meaningful agenda and a lack of quorum.

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