ISLAMABAD, May 17, 2018: The Punjab Assembly’s 36^th session was prorogued on Thursday after approval of 40 Supplementary Demands for Grants 2017-18 of 856 million PKR, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fourth and last sitting of the 36^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 52 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1355 hours against the scheduled time 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for three hours and ten minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Finance Minister was present for three hours and 48 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for three hours and 20 minutes.
• As many as 56 MPAs (15%) were present at outset and 110 (30%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of JI attended the sitting.
• As many as eight minority lawmakers also attended the sitting.

Output

• The House passed 40 Supplementary Demands for Grants 2017-18 of approximate value of 856 million PKR. As many as six lawmakers debated two Cut Motions consuming 30 minutes of the proceedings.
• The House adopted two supplementary resolutions expressing its condolences to the officers and soldiers martyred in Quetta operation; and expressing satisfaction on the performance of provincial government and PML-N leadership.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House held a general discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants 2017-18. As many as nine lawmakers participated in the discussion consuming one and a half hour while the Finance Minister summed up the discussion in nine minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised three Points of Order consuming five minutes of the proceedings.
• The opposition lawmakers staged a 12-minute protest over the remarks of a PML-N lawmaker against PTI leadership.
• The minority lawmakers belonging to treasury benches staged a walkout for 34 minutes over alleged off-the record remarks of a PTI lawmaker against minority members.
• Entire opposition walked out from the proceedings at 1730 hours against a supplementary government resolution expressing trust on PML-N leadership. They did not return to the proceedings till the prorogation of the House.

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.