ISLAMABAD, August 1, 2013: The debate on the bill on the local government system continued in the fifth sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s third session on Thursday. A total of 25 members took part in the debate.

The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting that lasted four hours and 15 minutes. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended it for 20 minutes.

All routine business of the assembly was suspended as per the recommendation of the Advisory Committee.

A total of 63 members (18%) were present at the beginning of the sitting, 25 (7%) at the end and a maximum 71 (20%) at a point during the sitting.

Tabled by Minister for Law, the House adopted a resolution to condemn attacks on holy places in Syria.

PTI, PPPP and PML members protested for two minutes against the hike in prices of petroleum and electricity.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and 15 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours witnessing a delay of an hour and 10 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting.
• A total of 63 members (18%) were present at the beginning, 25 (7%) at the end and a maximum 71 (20%) at a point during the sitting.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended sitting for 20 minutes.
• The parliamentary leader of JI attended the sitting.
• Two minority Members were present.

Output:

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn attacks on shrine and holy places in Syria.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty-five MPAs debated the bill on the new local government system.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on three Points of Order consuming two minutes of the proceedings.
• PTI, PPPP and PML members protested for two minutes against the hike in prices of petroleum and electricity. 
  

Transparency

• Members’ attendance was documented.

• Information on Members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public. 

 

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