ISLAMABAD, March 13, 2014: The Punjab Assembly passed three bills amidst low attendance on Thursday during the fifth sitting of 7^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The House considered the bills clause by clause and passed them with majority vote. The bills passed include the Punjab Development of Cities (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Lahore Garrison University Bill, 2014 and the Punjab Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2013.

The provincial minister for law introduced four more bills comprising Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Engineering and Technology Multan Bill 2014, the Punjab Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, Neo-Natal and Child Health Authority Bill 2014 and the Punjab Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2014.

The relevant minister responded to nine of the 34 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the irrigation department. Six of the starred questions were disposed of while the others could not be taken up. The members also asked 30 supplementary questions.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs), each sponsored by PTI and PPPP lawmakers, regarding details of murder and kidnap incidents. The provincial minister for law replied to the notices.

The House also took up a privilege motion of an independent lawmaker, however, it was deferred. The government replied to three adjournment motions (AMs) while eight other AMs were deferred as they were not responded to by the relevant departments.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 26 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1058 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 58 minutes.
• A total of 29 members were present at the start and 85 at the adjournment while a maximum of 98 at a point during the proceedings.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as the Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and six minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and JI attended the sitting.
• Two minority members were present.
• No member applied for the leave.
  

Output

• The House considered three government bills clause by clause and passed them with majority vote. The bills passed include the Punjab Development of Cities (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Lahore Garrison University Bill, 2014 and the Punjab Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
• The provincial minister for law introduced four more bills. These include Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Engineering and Technology Multan Bill 2014, the Punjab Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, Neo-Natal and Child Health Authority Bill 2014 and the Punjab Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The relevant minister responded to nine of the 34 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the irrigation department. Six of the starred questions were disposed of while the others could not be taken up. The members also asked 30 supplementary questions.
• The House took up two calling attention notices, each sponsored by PTI and PPPP lawmakers, regarding details of murder and kidnap incidents. The provincial minister for law replied to the notices.
• The House also took up a privilege motion of an independent lawmaker, however, it was deferred.
• The government replied to three adjournment motions (AMs) while eight AMs were deferred as they were not responded to by the relevant departments.

Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 15 points of order consuming 10 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

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