ISLAMABAD, March 02, 2018: The opposition lawmakers protested in the Punjab Assembly on Friday against the recent increase in petroleum prices and passage of a resolution condemning National Accountability Bureau, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 20^th sitting of the 34^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 25 minutes.
• The sitting started at 0946 hours against the scheduled time 0900 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 38 minutes.
• As many as four MPAs (1%) were present at outset and 48 (13%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PTI and JI were present during the proceedings.
• As many as five minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• The Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs presented a report of the Standing Committee on Industries, Commerce and Investment on the The Punjab Tianjin University of Technology Lahore Bill 2017.
• The House did not take up the audit reports appearing on Orders of the Day.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as eight out of 12 Starred Questions were answered during the proceedings while the remaining four questions were disposed of due to absence of the concerned lawmakers. The lawmakers asked 24 supplementary questions as well.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised nine Points of Order consuming 18 minutes of the proceedings.
• A JI lawmaker walked out from the proceedings at 1102 hours against decision of the Chair to disallow a supplementary resolution about the recent increase in petroleum prices. He did not return to the House till the adjournment.
• The opposition lawmakers staged a protest during the proceedings against passage of a government resolution condemning National Accountability Bureau’s actions and the recent increase in the petroleum prices.
• The House was adjourned to meet again at 1400 hours on Monday, March 5, 2018.

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 regretted.