ISLAMABAD, June 10, 2015: The Punjab Assembly adopted three resolutions and passed two bills amid thin attendance during first sitting of its 15^th session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started two hours and 16 minutes behind the schedule with 76 members (20%) present at the start and 34 (9%) at the time of adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting but was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers.

The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader attended the proceedings for 124 minutes.

The Provincial Minister for Law presented the Punjab Institute of Qura’n and Seerat Studies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.

The House passed the University of Jhang Bill 2015 and the University of Sahiwal Bill 2015 while three resolutions were adopted to condemn the recent killings of PML-N lawmaker Rana Shamshad and his son, massacre of Muslims in Burma and the anti-Pakistan statement by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A newly elected lawmaker took the oath.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and one minute.
• The sitting started at 1616 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 16 minutes.
• The remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• 76 members (20%) were present at the start and 34 (9%) at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 137 (37%) members were present at one point of the sitting.
• The Chief Minister was not present.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 124 minutes.
• Among parliamentary leaders, only the JI and PPPP leaders were present.
• Five out of eight minority members were present.
• No member applied for leave.

Output

• The Provincial Minister for Law presented the Punjab Institute of Qura’n and Seerat Studies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.

• The House passed the University of Jhang Bill 2015 and the University of Sahiwal Bill 2015.
• The House adopted three resolutions to condemn the killings of PML-N lawmaker Rana Shamshad and his son, massacre of Muslims in Burma and statement of Indian Prime Minister against Pakistan.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up four out of 19 questions appearing on the agenda.
• The lawmakers raised 11 supplementary questions during the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised 12 points of order that consumed five minutes of the sitting.
• The opposition staged twelve-minute walkout against the remarks of Minister for Zakat and Ushr over the issue of blind persons.

Transparency

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

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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 excepted.