ISLAMABAD, March 09, 2015: The last sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s 12th session concluded due to lack of quorum on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 75 minutes behind the schedule with 20 lawmakers (5%) present at the start and 40 (11%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting. Among parliamentary leaders, only the JI leader was present.

The University of Jhang Bill 2015 was not tabled despite being on the agenda. Similarly, a special audit report (2008-09) on the accounts of livestock experimental stations was also not presented.

The quorum was pointed out by an independent lawmaker at 1640 hours, following which the Deputy Speaker ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. The Chair ordered for the count but the quorum was found to be incomplete. As a result, the session was prorogued.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 30 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1515 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• 20 members (5%) were present at the start and 40 (11%) at the end of the sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting in the absence of the Speaker.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader were absent.
• Among parliamentary leaders, only the JI leader was present.
• Four out of eight minority members attended the proceedings.
• No member applied for leave.

Output

• The University of Jhang Bill 2015 was not tabled despite being on the agenda.
• A special audit report (2008-09) on the accounts of livestock experimental stations was not presented.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Ten out of 23 starred questions were taken up and responded by the relevant departments. In addition, the MPAs raised 28 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised four points of order that consumed two minutes of the sitting.
• An independent lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1640 hours, following which the Deputy Speaker ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. The Chair ordered for the count but the quorum was found to be incomplete. As a result, the session was prorogued.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and others.

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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.