ISLAMABAD, May 20, 2014: The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution to exempt fee for issuance or renewal of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) during 3^rd sitting of the 8^th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the House.

Tabled by the PML-N female lawmaker, the House urged the federal government not to charge any fee from the citizens over issuance or renewal of CNICs.

The House, however, rejected another resolution with majority tabled by the PML lawmaker for revision of pay scale of federal government employees.

The opposition recorded their protest for not getting permission to table a resolution regarding introduction of bio-metric vote counting system in the province. The Chair gave a ruling to settle the matter with Provincial Minister of Local Government and Community Development or bring a motion on it but the opposition continued their protest till the adjournment of the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 48 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 10 minutes.
• There were 16 members at the outset and 97 at the adjournment of sitting. A maximum of 102 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting as the Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and five minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of JI, PTI and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Four minority members were present.

Output

• Tabled by PML-N female lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution demanding the federal government to exempt fee for issuance or renewal of CNICs to the citizens.
• The House rejected the resolution with majority tabled by the PML lawmaker for revision of pay scale of federal government employees.

Representation and Responsiveness 

• Eight out of 28 starred questions (requiring oral answers as well) on the Orders of the Day were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, members asked 18 supplementary questions.
• The reply to seven answers was not received. The Chair ordered prompt action against those responsible for not submitting answers to the starred questions.
• The House took up a privilege motion of a PML-N female lawmaker against misbehavior of the Vice Chancellor of an educational institution against her.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers raised six points of order consuming five minutes of the sitting.
• The opposition protested against not getting the permission to table a resolution regarding introduction of bio-metric vote counting system in the province.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

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