ISLAMABAD, February 7, 2018: The Punjab Assembly passed three government bills on Wednesday amidst lack of quorum and opposition’s protest, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

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

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 43 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for two hours and ten minutes.
• The sitting started at 1137 hours against the scheduled time 1000 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 three minutes.
• As many as 21 MPAs (6%) were present at outset and 30 (8%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders were present during the proceedings.
• As many as four minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• The House passed the Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority Bill 2017, the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2017 and the Punjab Zakat and Ushr Bill, 2017.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Chair deferred the Question Hour on request of the government. There were 20 Starred Questions listed for answers during the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised six of Order consuming four minutes of the proceedings.
• A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1143 hours. The Chair ordered to ring the bells for five minutes; however, the quorum was found incomplete even after the bells and the proceedings were suspended for two hours and ten minutes.
• The opposition lawmakers staged a walkout from proceedings against deferment of the Question Hour.
• The House was adjourned to meet again at 1000 hours on Thursday.

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.