ISLAMABAD, May 19, 2014: The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution to express solidarity with the Armed Forces during second sitting of its eighth session on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Tabled by the Provincial Law Minister, the House adopted the resolution, which was earlier attempted by PML parliamentary leader but did not get permission to move it.

The PML lawmakers protested within the House for 20 minutes for not getting permission from the Chair that was followed by a walk out by the entire opposition. In the meantime, the Chair observed that the PML leader could move the resolution once the Question Hour was over. However, the entire opposition walked out of the House once again when the minister was allowed to table the same resolution.

The Provincial Law Minister also introduced Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014.

The House took up three calling attention notices (CANS) regarding crime incidents in various areas of the provinces.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 27 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1730 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of two hours and 30 minutes.
• The House had a prayer break for 40 minutes.
• A total of 98 members were present at the start, 104 at the adjournment while a maximum of 166 at a point during the proceedings.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was there for an hour and seven minutes.
• Parliamentary leaders of JI, PML, PTI and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Four minority members were present.
• No member applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by the Provincial Law Minister, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution to express solidarity with the Armed Forces.
• The Provincial Law Minister also introduced Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Sponsored by two PML-N legislators and one PTI lawmaker, the House took up three CANs regarding kidnapping of women for ransom in Dera Ghazi Khan, murder of a person in Dunga police station, Gujrat and assassination of three-year old girl in Rahim Yar Khan. All the CANs were responded to by the Provincial Law Minister.
• The House took up six of the 22 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). In addition, thirteen supplementary questions were asked.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised fourteen points of order consuming thirteen minutes of the proceedings.
• PML lawmakers protested within the House for 20 minutes for not getting permission from the Chair to table the resolution to express solidarity with the Armed Forces. The entire opposition walked out of the House twice on the same issue.

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