ISLAMABAD, May 26, 2014: The Provincial Assembly of Punjab passed the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014 on Monday during seventh sitting of 8^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

The opposition members boycotted the proceedings alleging that the government was barring their representation in District Coordination Committees. A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum moments after the Leader of the Opposition announced boycott. However, the quorum was found complete on recount.

In the absence of opposition lawmakers, the Provincial Minister for Law introduced the bill which was immediately passed by the treasury benches.

The House took up 12 of the 23 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Departments of Labour & Human Resource and Social Welfare. The members additionally asked 34 supplementary questions.

The general discussion on health was deferred for a later sitting due to the boycott of opposition parties. The members raised eight points of order consuming 10 minutes of the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 50 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1630 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of one and a half hour.
• Eighty six members were present at the start, 84 at the adjournment while a maximum 120 at the time of adjournment.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as the Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was there for five minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and JI attended the sitting.
• Four minority members were present.
• No member applied for the leave.

Output

• The Provincial Minister for Law introduced the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014 and moved the House to consider it at once. The bill was passed.  

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up 12 of the 23 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Departments of Labour & Human Resource and Social Welfare. The members additionally asked 34 supplementary questions.
• The general discussion on health was deferred for a later sitting due to the boycott of opposition parties.

Order and Institutionalization

• The opposition members boycotted the proceedings alleging that the government was barring their representation in District Coordination Committees.
• A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum moments after the Leader of the Opposition announced boycott. However, the quorum was found complete on recount.
• The members raised eight points of order consuming 10 minutes of the proceedings.

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