ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2014: The debate on PTI’s election rigging allegations consumed 47 percent of the proceedings time mostly on points of order during the 5^th sitting of 11^th National Assembly session on Friday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Starting 21 minutes behind schedule, the Lower House met for two hours and 24 minutes. The Minister for Railways and the PTI Deputy Parliamentary Leader mainly expressed their views on election rigging charges.

Sponsored by five PML-N legislators, including four females, the House took up a calling attention notice regarding the increasing tendency of youth to the use of narcotics in Islamabad.

Being on agenda, the House neither discussed the law and order situation in the country nor took up a CAN sponsored by four JI lawmakers, including a female, regarding development in remote districts at par with the developed districts in the country.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 24 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1021 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 21 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of MQM, APML, JI, PkMAP and QWP attended the proceedings.
• Thirty-three members (9%) were present at the start and 45 (13%) at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 130 members (38%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Fourteen members applied for leave.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Sponsored by five PML-N legislators, including four females, the House took up a calling attention notice regarding the increasing tendency of youth to the use of narcotics in Islamabad.
• Twelve of the 35 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) were answered by the relevant ministries while 12 supplementary questions were also asked.

Order and Institutionalization

• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.
• Lawmakers spoke on seven POs consuming 68 minutes of the proceedings.
  

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