ISLAMABAD, June 20, 2012: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the budget in the 12^th sitting of the 38^th session as the House witnessed two walkouts over burning of legislators’ homes in the province and use of indecent language against women MPAs.

Only three legislators were present at the outset of the sitting. Moreover only 32% of the House’s membership was present to vote on each article of the Finance Bill 2012-13.

Meeting for two hours and 40 minutes, the sitting, which started an hour behind schedule, had only 70 legislators when it was adjourned. The Punjab Assembly is the largest legislature in Pakistan with the current strength of 369.

The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was pointed out by a female PML Member. The Chair ordered the ringing of the bells for five minutes and then suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes. However, the sitting resumed after 50 minutes.

The sitting witnessed two walkouts by the PPPP and PML legislators. In the first instance, they walked out in protest against the attacks on houses of PPPP and PML parliamentarians. On the other occasion they walked out against the use of non-parliamentary language for the women legislators from the Opposition Benches.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 40 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1100 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings started an hour late.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting. The Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and five minutes.
• The Minister for Finance was present for an hour and 30 minutes.
• Only the parliamentary leader of PML was present while the leaders of PMLF, MMAP and PMLZ were absent.
• Only three Members (1% of the total Membership of 369) were present at the start while 70 (19%) were there when the sitting was adjourned. A maximum of 119 (32%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• Five minority Members were present.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed the Annual Budget Statement during the sitting. Only 32% of the House’s membership was present to vote on each article of the Finance Bill 2012-13.

Output

• There was no other formal agenda on the Orders of the Day.

Order and Institutionalization

• No Points of Order was raised during the sitting.
• The sitting witnessed two walkouts by the PPPP and PML. In the first instance, they walked out in protest against the attacks on houses of PPPP and PML parliamentarians. On other occasion, they walked out against the use of non-parliamentary language for the women legislators from the Opposition Benches.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was pointed out by a female PML Member. The Chair ordered the ringing of the bells for five minutes and then suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes. However, the sitting resumed after 50 minutes.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN