ISLAMABAD, November 14, 2019: The National Assembly left 97 percent of its agenda unaddressed on Thursday and debated political matters through points of order, observers Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fourth sitting of the 16^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 31 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1141 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 77 (23%) were present at the outset and 81 (24%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA, BAP, AMLP, PML, MMAP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• A PTI lawmaker introduced two bills including the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2019 and the Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Both bills were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration.
• The House did not take up 82 private members’ bills; six reports of the standing committees on legislative proposals; amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007; 13 resolutions including eight to disapprove various government ordinances, five motions under Rule 259 and a Calling Attention Notice.

Representation and Responsiveness 

• The House took up 15 out of 33 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 26 supplementary questions as well.
• Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security and Research responded to a Calling Attention Notice regarding non-fixation of price of sugarcane by the government.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five lawmakers including Minister for Communications spoke on points of order consuming 64 minutes (43%) of the proceedings.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on November 15, 2019 (Friday) at 1030 hours.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of the lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted