ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2016: The National Assembly continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers during its sitting on Thursday as Points of Order (POs) consumed around three-fifths of sitting’s time, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The House witnessed low attendance as 35 lawmakers (10%) were present at outset and 22 (7%) at adjournment of the sitting

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1038 hours against the scheduled time 1030 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 108 minutes while rest of the proceeding was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 86 minutes.
• Five Cabinet Members attended the sitting.
• 35 MNAs (10%) were present at outset and 22 (7%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, ANP, APML, PML-Z, PML-F and QWP-S attended the sitting.
• Nine minority members were present.

Output

• The House did not consider the Patents (Amendment) Bill,2016 and Periodical Report of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication from July -December, 2015.
• PkMAP lawmaker presented the Periodical Report of Standing Committee on lnter-Provincial Coordination from November, 2013-December, 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The government orally replied to eight out of 42 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, the lawmakers also asked 17 supplementary questions.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) about increase in poverty and living standards of sixty million people below the poverty line in the country. Minister for SAFRON responded to it.
• Another CAN about only one out of twenty four power generation projects for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not considered by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Thirty-three Points of Order consumed 125 minutes (59%) of the sitting.
• MQM lawmakers walked out of the House for 19 minutes against arrest of its party leaders and workers.

Transparency

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

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