ISLAMABAD, March 14, 2017: The Punjab Assembly adopted three resolutions while deferred two bills appearing on the agenda due to absence of relevant lawmakers on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during seventh sitting of 27^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 20 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting due to absence of the Speaker.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and 15 minutes.
• Eight MPAs (2%) were present at the outset and 10 (2%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-Z and JI attended the sitting.
• Four minority members were present.

Output

• The House adopted two Private Members’ resolutions recommending the government to build industrial zone in Bahawalpur and a bridge over river Jhelum in Chak Nizam.
• The House deferred two bills and as many resolutions due to absence of concerned lawmakers while one bill was withdrawn by the mover.
• Moved as supplementary agenda, the House also adopted a resolution condemning the circulation of blasphemous content on social media websites. Fourteen lawmakers expressed their views on this subject consuming 41 minutes of proceedings.
• The House granted two-month extension to the standing committees on Finance, Home Affairs and Local Government and Community Development for presentation of their reports.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as three out of six Starred Questions were responded to by the government during Question Hour while remaining three were disposed of due to the absence of movers. The lawmakers asked six Supplementary Questions as well.
• The House deferred seven Adjournment Motions of PTI and PML lawmakers.
• Minister for Human Rights made a statement on a Zero Hour notice while two such notices were deferred.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 14 Points of Order consuming as many minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

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

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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 regretted.