Punjab Assembly: 39 Lawmakers Take Part in Budget Discussion

ISLAMABAD, June 21, 2016: The Punjab Assembly continued general discussion on the provincial budget 2016-17 during fifth sitting of the 22nd session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and 50 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1035 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 48 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for an hour and 15 minutes.
• The Finance Minister attended the sitting for two hours and nine minutes.
• Twenty-six lawmakers (7%) were present at the outset and six (1%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JI and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Thirty-nine lawmakers – PML-N (28), PTI (8), PML (2) and JI (one) – took part in the discussion on Annual Budget for the year 2016-17.

Order and Institutionalization

• The opposition parties staged a walkout for eight minutes against the decision of the Chair to not allow a PML lawmaker to continue her speech.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Information on members’ attendance is available on the Assembly’s website.

The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.

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