ISLAMABAD, November 6, 2013: Starting 10 minutes late, the National Assembly continued debate on the recent drone attacks in North Waziristan Agency during the third sitting of the ongoing sixth session, says Free and Fair Election Network on Wednesday.

Ten legislators – two each of PTI and PML-N, and one each of PPPP, JUI-F, JI, PkMAP, ANP and an Independent – debated the Motion under Rule 259 about the recent drone attacks for two hours and 48 minutes.

Members spoke on 17 Points of Order for 62 minutes (23% of the sitting time). However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling. Unless the Chair gives a formal ruling on a Point of Order, it does not lead to any assembly’s output.

The sitting witnessed low attendance of Members as 47 (13% of the current membership—340) were present at the outset of the sitting while 67 were there at the adjournment

The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was there for four hours and 25 minutes.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for four hours and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1040 hours against the schedule time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 10 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 41 minutes while the remaining 20 minutes were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition remained present for four hours and 25 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PkMAP, ANP, APML, PML-Z, QWP-S and JI were present.
• Forty-seven Members (13% of the total current membership – 340) were present at the outset while 67 (20%) were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 165 Members were observed to be present at one point of sitting.
• Five minority Members attended the sitting.
• The House observed a 28-minute prayer break.
• Six members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Calling Attention Notices appearing on the Orders of the Day about “failure to recover taxes due from three million people as identified by FBR”, and “non-consideration of plan for tapping the run of the river projects on Chitral river” were not taken up.
• Ten Members spoke on the Motion under Rule 259 about the recent drone attacks in North Waziristan Agency.
• The PkMAP lawmaker spoke for 48 minutes followed by two PTI MNAs (31 minutes), an ANP MNA (26 minutes), an MNA from FATA (21 minutes), JI (17 minutes), PPPP (9 minutes) and JUI-F (5 minutes).

Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 17 Points of Order for 62 minutes (23% of the sitting time). However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of Protest, Boycotts or Walkouts.

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