ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2013: Starting 35 minutes late, the Punjab Assembly debated the cut motions, jointly sponsored by opposition parties, during the 6th sitting of the ongoing budget session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet based on direct observation.

The long stretched sitting, which met for four hours and 25 minutes, witnessed low attendance. A maximum of 110 MPAs (30% of the total membership) attended the sitting.  Additionally, the Chief Minister and the parliamentary leaders of PML, PMLZ, and PPPP did not attend the sitting.

As many as 12 members – 10 of PTI and two of PML – took part in the debate on cut motions.  Eight adjournment motions were raised in the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and 25 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1035 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 35 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 59 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• Seventy-three members were present at the outset while 101 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 110 members were present at one point of sitting.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 53 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML, PMLZ, and PPPP did not attend the sitting whereas the only member of JI was present.
• The finance minister attended the proceedings for three hours and 40 minutes.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• The opposition jointly sponsored five cut motions. The House disapproved two cut motions. As many as 12 members – 10 of PTI and two of PML – took part in the debate on cut motions.
• Two out of eight adjournment motions were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. The first called upon the provincial government to set up a Hepatitis Crisis Center in Punjab while, the other demanded steps to check the disease of Measles. Six adjournments motions were deferred.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Ten Points of Order consumed six minutes of the sitting time.
• A PTI legislator pointed out quorum at 1248 hours but the proceedings resumed after head-count as the required number of members (one-fourth of the total membership – 93) were present.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was recorded but not available to the observers and the public.
• Copies of the budget speech were available to the legislators.

 

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN, a member organization of FAFEN