ISLAMABAD, March 12, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab adopted four private members’ resolutions on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 15^th sitting of the seventh session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for an hour and 40 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1231 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 39 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
• The Leaders of the House and Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 40 MPAs (11%) were present at the outset and 65 (18%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leader attended the proceedings.
• As many as three out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• A private member belonging to PTI introduced the Punjab Public Representatives Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill was referred to the relevant standing committee.
• Moved by PML-N lawmakers as supplementary agenda, the House adopted two resolutions offering condolences on the death of lawmaker Arshad Khan Lodhi and paying tribute to Pakistan Air force for shooting down Indian jets last month.
• The House adopted four private members’ resolutions recommending the government to provide career-counseling in the universities, facilitate agricultural and industrial sectors for economic progress, issue funds for promotion of hockey, and build Judicial Complex and Judicial Colony in tehsil Bhera. These resolutions were moved by the lawmakers belonging to PML-N and PTI.
• The House rejected eight private members’ resolutions moved by PML, PTI and PML-N lawmakers.
• As many as four private members’ resolutions appearing on the agenda were deferred due to absence of the relevant ministers or movers.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Higher Education responded to eight out of 11 Starred Questions while two questions were disposed of due to absence of the movers and one was deferred on mover’s request. The lawmakers asked 10 supplementary questions as well.
• The Ministers for Law and Labour & Human Resource responded to two Adjournment Motions (AMs) regarding poor sewerage system in Tehsil Jampur and pending financial-support applications due to negligence of Workers Welfare Board (WWB).
• The Minister for Law responded to a Zero Hour (ZH) Notice raised by a PML lawmaker regarding violation of ban on kite flying. Another ZH notice was deferred due to absence of the relevant minister.

Order and Institutionalization

• As many as 13 lawmakers spoke on Point of Orders for 15 minutes.
• The lawmakers belonging to treasury staged a seven-minute protest against derogatory remarks of an opposition lawmaker about the provincial government.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on March 13, 2019 (Wednesday) at 1100 hours.

Transparency

• • ‘Orders of the Day’ was available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

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.