ISLAMABAD, June 23, 2013: Starting 41 minutes late, the National Assembly debated the Cut Motions raised on the Demands for Grants for the six ministries in the second session’s 10^th sitting on Sunday. The House also unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the terrorists attack and killing of the climbers in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The sitting lasted 11 hours and 54 minutes before it was adjourned at 2305 hours to meet again on Monday at 1030 hours.

Demands for Grants for Cabinet Division, Ministry of Textile and Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Water and Power, Ministry of Industries and Productions, and Ministry of Railways were approved.

One of the two Calling Attention Notices appearing on the agenda was taken up. It was regarding problems of overseas Pakistanis relating to work permit and visa for Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries.

The Speaker chaired the sitting for seven hours and 12 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings: 

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for 11 hours and 54 minutes. The House took two breaks during the sitting, one of 75 minutes while the other of 27 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1111 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1030 hours, witnessing the delay of 41 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for seven hours and 12 minutes. The rest of the proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and 52 minutes.
• The Minister for Finance attended the entire sitting but four minutes.
• A total of 142 members were present at the outset while 115 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 210 members were there at one point of sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• Twelve members applied for leave. 

Representation and Responsiveness

• One of the two Calling Attention Notices appearing on the agenda was taken up. It was regarding problems of overseas Pakistanis relating to work permit and visa for Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries.
• As many as 53 Cut Motions were raised against the 18 Demands for Grants for the Cabinet Division. As many as eight Members spoke on the subject for 95 minutes. The debate was concluded by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. He spoke for six minutes.
• Seventy-one Cut Motions were raised against the four Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Textile and Commerce. A total of four Members spoke on the subject for 16 minutes. Speaking for four minutes, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs concluded the debate.

• A total of 178 Cut Motions were raised by the opposition against the 28 Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Finance. Six Members spoke on the subject for 36 minutes. The debate was concluded by the Federal Finance Minister. He spoke for 44 minutes.
• Eighty-eight Cut Motions were raised against the two Demands for Grants for Ministry of Water and Power. As many as seven members discussed these consuming 34 minutes. The Minister of Water and Power concluded the debate and spoke for 11 minutes.
• As many as 61 Cut Motions were raised against the six Demands for Grants for Ministry of Industries and Productions. Five Members spoke on these for 21 minutes and the respective Minister concluded the debate consuming six minutes.
• The opposition Members raised 76 Cut Motions against the two Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Railways. Six Members spoke on the subject for 29 minutes. The Railways Minister concluded the debate consuming 16 minutes.

Output

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the terrorists attack on the climbers in Gilgit-Baltistan. It was moved by a PTI member.

Order and Institutionalization

• Fifteen points of order consumed 72 minutes of the sitting time.
• No instance 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 the 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