ISLAMABAD, March 6, 2012: The eighth sitting of the Punjab Assembly witnessed low attendance of MPAs on Tuesday, as only six Members were present at the start and five at the adjournment.

Starting one hour and 10 minutes behind schedule, the sitting lasted two hours and 30 minutes. A maximum of 55 MPAs were observed present at one point of the sitting.

Out of 34 Starred Questions listed for the Question Hour, ten were put up and responded by the relevant ministries. Thirty supplementary questions were asked.

The House adopted two resolutions regarding provision of gas to the industries and teaching of Quran with translation in the schools.

Twenty-three Points Of Order consumed 40 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 30 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The House proceedings started one hour and 10 minutes late.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leader of MMAP attended the sitting.
• Six Members (2% of the Membership – 369) were present at the start while only five (1%) were there when the sitting was adjourned. A maximum of 55 Members (15%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• Four minority Members were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Out of 34 Starred Questions listed for the Question Hour, ten were put up and responded by the relevant ministries. Thirty supplementary questions were asked.
• Four Adjournment Motions were raised during the sitting.
  

Output

• The House adopted two resolutions regarding provision of gas to the industries and teaching of Quran with translation in schools.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Twenty-three Points Of Order consumed 40 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• One PPPP Member boycotted the proceedings after the treasury benches began to talk loudly as he was speaking on a Point of Order.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum was visible lacking at various staged of the sitting. A PPPP Member pointed out Quorum and the bells were rung for five.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN