• Debate on matters under Rule 18 consumes 46% of the total proceedings time

ISLAMABAD, March 24, 2014: Starting an hour and 38 minutes late, the first sitting of the 10^th session of National Assembly was marked by low attendance, as only 97 lawmakers were present at the outset while 35 were there at the adjournment, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs laid the first quarterly report of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan for the year 2013-2014 about Pakistan’s economy.

Debate on matters under Rule 18 consumes 46% of the total proceedings time. The Speaker administered the oath to a newly elected PML-N lawmaker.

The House did not take up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding installation of telephone towers in the residential areas by mobile phone companies, resulting in the spread of dangerous diseases and non-renewal of arms licenses by NADRA.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for four hours.
• The sitting started at 1738 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 38 minutes.
• The House had a prayer break of 56 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 50 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, APML, PML-Z, ANP, AMLP and QWP were present.
• Ninety-seven members were present at the outset while 35 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 168 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Eight minority members attended the sitting.
• Fourteen members applied for leave.
  

Output

• State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs laid the first quarterly report of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan for the year 2013-2014 about Pakistan’s economy.

Representation and Responsiveness

• All 11 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written answers) on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 11 supplementary questions were asked. 
• The sole AMLP legislator submitted a privilege motion against off-loading him from a Canada-bound flight. The motion was referred to the relevant committee.
• A PML-N legislator also submitted a privilege motion regarding misbehaviour of police officials during lawyers’ protest outside the Parliament building when he tried to enter the House to attend proceedings. The motion was referred to the relevant committee.

• Two CANs regarding installation of telephone towers in the residential areas by mobile phone companies resulting in the spread of dangerous diseases and non-renewal of arms licenses by NADRA were not taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on 28 matters under Rule 18 for an hour and 50 minutes.
• No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed 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.

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