ISLAMABAD, September 11, 2017: The National Assembly, on Monday, held a discussion on a Motion under Rule 259 regarding violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of the 46^th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for three hours and three minutes of which the proceedings remained suspended for 36 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1720 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 15 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and seven minutes.
• As many as 91 (27%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 43 (13%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PkMAP, JUI-F, JI and APML attended the sitting.
• Five minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Chairman Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training presented the report of the committee on the Apprenticeship Bill, 2017. The House condoned the delay in presentation of the report.
• The House also witnessed the presentation of the Annual Report of the National Economic Council for the financial year 2015-16 and the Federal Accounts for the financial year 2015-16 and the reports thereon for the audit year 2016-17.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as 12 out of 33 Starred Questions were taken up for answers during the proceedings. The lawmakers also asked 24 supplementary questions.
• The House converted an Adjournment Motion regarding violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar into a Motion under Rule 259 and discussed it for an hour and 11 minutes. Five lawmakers took part in the discussion which would continue on Wednesday.
• The House did not take up the Calling Attention Notices appearing on the Orders of the Day.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised two Points of Order consuming five minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

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

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