ISLAMABAD, February 6, 2017: The Provincial Assembly of Punjab unanimously adopted a resolution to express solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Leader of the House and all the Parliamentary leaders remained absent during the proceedings.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 11^th sitting of 26^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 36 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1536 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for eleven minutes.
• Twelve MPAs (3%) were present at the outset and 37 (10%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• None of the Parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution to express solidarity and support with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir and demanded implementation of the UN Resolution on Kashmir for their right to self-determination. The resolution was tabled by the Minister for Law.
• The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs introduced the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2017, as well.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Industries and Commerce concluded general discussion on the Annual Report of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) for the year 2012-13. Three lawmakers participated in the debate, consuming 27 minutes of the proceedings.
• As many as nine out of 22 Starred Questions were responded to during the Question Hour while 13 questions were disposed of due to the absence of movers. The lawmakers also asked 19 supplementary questions.
• The House disposed of a Calling Attention Notice submitted by a PML-N lawmaker.
• An Adjournment Motion and a Zero Hour Notice remained pending, which were sponsored by PML-N lawmakers.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on nine Points of Order, consuming 11 minutes of the proceedings.
• Entire opposition boycotted the assembly proceedings at 1550 against the “biased” attitude of the Speaker for “favoring” the treasury lawmakers. They did not return to the House till the adjournment of the sitting.
• An Independent lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1637 that led to the suspension of proceedings for 32 minutes while the House again resumed its business on 1715 hours.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

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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 excepted.