ISLAMABAD, February 9, 2015: Starting 47 minutes behind the schedule, the fifth sitting of the National Assembly’s ongoing 18th session was marked by low attendance of lawmakers and a joint walkout against increase in GST on petroleum products.

Only 45 (13%) lawmakers were present at the start of the sitting and 70 (20%) at the time of adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking during the entire sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers.

The State Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination introduced the Pakistan Health Research Council Bill 2015, which was referred to the relevant standing committee for further deliberations.

The House adopted two resolutions with majority vote to extend the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 and the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 for 120 days with effect from February 12, 2015. The resolutions were tabled by the State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

Two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding discontinuation of 650MW electricity to K-Electric and the government’s failure to eliminate poverty through Benazir Income Support Programme were also taken up during the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and five minutes.
• The sitting started at 1647 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The House observed a prayer break for 29 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 57 minutes, while the remaining proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for two hours and 42 minutes.
• Forty-five (13%) lawmakers were present at the start of the sitting and 70 (20%) at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 123 (36%) MNAs were present at one point of the sitting
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, AMLP, PkMAP, PML-Z, ANP, APML and QWP attended the sitting.
• Three out of 10 minority members were present.
• Fifteen members applied for leave.

Output

• The House adopted two resolutions with majority vote to extend the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 and the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 for 120 days with effect from February 12, 2015. The resolutions were tabled by the State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
• The State Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination introduced the Pakistan Health Research Council Bill 2015, which was referred to the relevant standing committee for further deliberations.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Thirteen out of 33 starred questions appearing on Orders of the Day were taken up and responded by the relevant ministry. In addition, the MNAs raised 18 supplementary questions during the sitting.
• Two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding discontinuation of 650MW electricity to K-Electric and the government’s failure to eliminate poverty through Benazir Income Support Programme were also taken up during the sitting.
• Two motions under Rule 259 to debate the recent petrol crisis and problems being faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) were not taken up.
• The House passed a motion moved by the State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs to use the National Assembly’s hall for the Senate’s elections on March 3.

Order and Institutionalization

• Eight points of order consumed 35 minutes of the proceedings’ time.
• Opposition members along with the parliamentary leader of QWP staged a walkout against increase in GST on petroleum products at 1848 hours. They were joined by MQM lawmakers who also left the House against the same issue two minutes later. The lawmakers returned to the House at 1854 hours.

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.

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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way 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 are excepted.