ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2015: The Punjab Assembly held a discussion on the supplementary budget 2014-15 amid low attendance of lawmakers on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 56 minutes behind the schedule with 20 members (5%) present at the start and 60 (16%) at the time of adjournment. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for only seven minutes. However, the Finance Minister attended nearly the entire sitting.

Twenty-four members participated in the budget discussion that took up 72% of the proceedings’ time. These included 11 members from PML-N, followed by PTI (nine), PML (three) and PPPP (one). The discussion was concluded by the Finance Minister in her five-minute speech. Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 48 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1056 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• 20 members (5%) were present at the start and 60 (16%) at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 94 (25%) members were present at one point of the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 84 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for 144 minutes.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was present for seven minutes.
• The Finance Minister was present for 221 minutes.
• Among parliamentary leaders, only the JI leader was present.
• Five minority members attended the proceedings.
• No member applied for the leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty-four members participated in the discussion on the supplementary budget 2014-15 that took up 72% of the proceedings’ time. These included 11 members from PML-N, followed by PTI (nine), PML (three) and PPPP (one). The discussion was concluded by the Finance Minister in her five-minute speech.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised three points of order that took up two minute of the sitting.
• A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1143 hours, which was found complete upon counting. The lawmaker, however, walked out of the House to express his dissatisfaction but returned after four minutes.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was also available to the observers and the public.

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This 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 excepted.