ISLAMABAD, March 28, 2014: With the presence of 64 lawmakers at the outset and 68 at the adjournment, the National Assembly took up two calling attention notices (CANs) during 5^th sitting of the 10^th session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.

Sponsored by PML-N legislator, the House took up calling attention notice (CAN) regarding threatening statement made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to debar those citizens of Bangladesh who waived Pakistani flags during T-20 World Cup Tournament.

The second taken up CAN was about the total public debt obtained by the government over past few years in excess of 60 per cent of GDP in violation of the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005. It was jointly sponsored by five legislators – PTI (3), PPPP and MQM (one each).

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings. Parliamentary leader of PkMAP, MQM, JI and QWP attended the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for an hour and 43 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, MQM, JI and QWP were present.
• Sixty-four members were present at the outset while 68 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 120 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• Eleven members applied for leave.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• All 10 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written answers) on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 19 supplementary questions were asked.
• Sponsored by PML-N legislator, the House took up calling attention notice (CAN) regarding threatening statement made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to debar those citizens of Bangladesh who waived Pakistani flags during T-20 World Cup Tournament.
• The second taken up CAN was about the total public debt obtained by the government over past few years in excess of 60 per cent of GDP in violation of the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005. It was jointly sponsored by five legislators – PTI (3), PPPP and MQM (one each).
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on eight points of order for 10 minutes.

• No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.

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