ISLAMABAD, May 24, 2021: The National Assembly passed two government bills and adopted a resolution to extend the Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 for a further period of 120 days, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during fourth sitting of 33rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for four hours and two minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 37 minutes due to two prayer breaks.
• The sitting started at 04:08 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.
• The speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and eight minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by the deputy speaker.
• The leaders of the House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The leader of the opposition was present for 21 minutes.
• As many as 69 (20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 21 (six percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leader of GDA attended the sitting.
• Six out of ten minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• The House passed two government bills including the PAF Air War College Institute Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Tabled by Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, the House adopted a resolution to extend the Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 202 for a further period of 120 days with effect from June 11, 2021. Four lawmakers spoke on it for 17 minutes.
• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs laid Election Commission of Pakistan’s annual report 2020.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up 12 out of 21 starred questions, while lawmakers asked 18 supplementary questions as well.
• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding non-payment of technical or engineering allowance to the registered Engineers working in the federal government. It was sponsored by five PTI lawmakers.
• The house took up another CAN regarding Indian atrocities and violations of basic human rights in Indian illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
• The House did not consider a motion of thanks to the President for his address to the both Houses of Parliament on August 20, 2020.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Nineteen lawmakers spoke on matter which is not a point of order (under rule 18) for an hour and 25 minutes.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 08:07 pm which was found incomplete upon the counting.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 04:00 pm.

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.

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