ISLAMABAD, April 2, 2014: The National Assembly witnessed presentation of two reports and took up two calling attention notices (CANs) on Wednesday during 8^th sitting of its 10^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

On behalf of Federal Finance Minister, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology presented the Second Quarterly Report for the year 2013-2014 of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of country’s economy. The chairman of the Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control also laid its report on the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a CAN regarding non existence of policy to change the responsibilities of government employees who become disabled/handicapped during the service. The Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination replied to the other CAN regarding thirty percent increase in the prices of 179 life saving drugs. The earlier CAN was jointly sponsored by five lawmakers of PML-N and the later was put up by five lawmakers of PPPP.

The House took up 13 of the 28 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Ministry of Railways and Cabinet Secretariat. The members asked 12 supplementary questions as well.

The lawmakers belonging to MQM walked out of the House against target killing of their workers in Karachi. They left the plenary at 1228 hours and did not return until the sitting was adjourned at 1315 hours.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 10 minutes, taking a break of three minutes.
• The sitting started at 1105 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 35 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for one hour and ten minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a member of presiding officers as the Deputy Speaker was absent.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and JI were present.
• Forty-seven members were present at the outset while 29 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 103 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Twenty-one members applied for leave.

Output

• The Federal Minister for Science and Technology presented the Second Quarterly Report for the year 2013-2014 of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of country’s economy.
• The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control also laid its report on the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a CAN regarding non existence of policy to change the responsibilities of government employees who become disabled/handicapped during the service. The Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination replied to the other CAN regarding thirty percent increase in the prices of 179 life saving drugs. The earlier CAN was jointly sponsored by five lawmakers of PML-N and the later was put up by five lawmakers of PPPP.
• The House took up 13 of the 28 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Ministry of Railways and Cabinet Secretariat. The members asked 12 supplementary questions as well.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers belonging to MQM walked out of the House against target killing of their workers in Karachi. They left the plenary at 1228 hours and did not return until the adjournment of the sitting at 1315 hours.
• The legislators also raised eleven points of order consuming 26 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