ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2022: The National Assembly adopted two resolutions, witnessed the presentation of an ordinance and laying of two financial papers on the floor of the House, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of the 42nd session:

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met two hours and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 04:55 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.
• The Speaker presided over the entire proceedings.
• The Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Speaker announced the names of six members of the panel of chairpersons for the current session.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for 46 minutes.
• As many as 28 (eight percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 38 (11 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of MQM, GDA, MMAP, BAP and JWP attended the sitting.
• Three out of 10 minority lawmakers were also present.

 Output

• The General Statistics (Re-Organization) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 (Ordinance No. III of 2022) was presented in the House.
• Two papers on the Fiscal and Debt Policy Statement, January, 2022 and the Mid-Year Budget Review Report FY 2021-22 were laid before the House. However, the House did not take up three standing committees’ reports, including the National Highways Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Civil Unmanned Aircraft System Bill, 2021 and the Iqbal Academy Pakistan Bill, 2022.
• The House passed two resolutions – one recommending the government to constitute a task force to ensure implementation of the rights of minorities in view of the apex court’s judgement 2014. It also proposed ToRs for the task force. The other resolution was about the condemnation of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statements against the institutions.
• The Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety made a policy statement regarding the granting of right to appeal to those 8.5 million beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), who were excluded by the previous government of Imran Khan.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Eight out of 41 starred questions were responded to on the floor of the House. While, four supplementary questions were also taken up by the members.
• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-increase in the pension of EOBI beneficiaries by the government and non-payment of stipend to Post Graduate Trainees (FCPS), who were inducted by the PIMS hospital in January 2022.

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine points of order consumed 43 percent of the House proceedings.
• A lawmaker belonging to GDA pointed out the quorum at 05:56 pm, following which the Chair ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. However, the counting was made at 06:04 pm and the quorum was found complete.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 4 pm.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.

 

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