ISLAMABAD, May 23, 2017: The Punjab Assembly adopted two Private Members’ resolutions recommending the government to act against quackery and construct a bridge in Bahawalpur, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Tuesday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during third sitting of 29^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 15 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1125 hours against the scheduled time 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 50 minutes.
• Twenty MPAs (5%) were present at the outset and 23 (6%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JI, PML-Z and PTI attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• Moved by a PTI lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution urging the government to take strict action against quackery in the province.
• The House also passed a PML-N lawmaker’s resolution recommending the government to construct an overhead bridge on Circular Road near Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur.
• Moved by Minister for Law as supplementary agenda, the House adopted a resolution demanding service structure for the employees of electronic media organizations.
• The House deferred four Private Members’ resolutions and disposed of one resolution due to the absence of concerned lawmakers.
• The House witnessed presentation of a report of the Committee on Privileges while granting two-month extension to the Standing Committees on Environment Protection; Health; Food; Excise and Taxation; Education; and Livestock and Dairy Development for their reports.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as nine out of 12 Starred Questions were responded to by the government during Question Hour while two questions were disposed of due to absence of the movers. The lawmakers also asked 21 supplementary questions.
• The House deferred an Adjournment Motion as well as two Zero Hour Notices on request of the government.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 18 Points of Order consuming as many minutes of the proceedings.
• The sole JI lawmaker staged a token boycott of the proceedings for five minutes over deferment of his resolution regarding tax on agricultural income.

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 excepted.