ISLAMABAD, February 24, 2015: Starting 53 minutes behind schedule, the ninth sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s 12th session adopted three resolutions amid low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Sixteen legislators (4%) were present at the start of the sitting while 60 (16%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.

The House adopted three resolutions regarding taking action against those private educational institutions increasing fee in the garb of security measures, declaring blood test compulsory for pregnant women for six months and appointing female labour inspectors in Industrial zones to protect rights of women workers.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1053 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• Sixteen legislators (4%) were present at the start while 60 (16%) at the end of the sitting.
• The sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader were absent.
• Among parliamentary leaders, only the PPPP and JI leaders attended the sitting.
• Two out of eight minority members were present.
• Twenty members applied for leave.

Output

• The House adopted three resolutions regarding taking action against those private educational institutions increasing fee in the garb of security measures, declaring blood test compulsory for pregnant women for six months and appointing female labour inspectors in industrial zones to protect rights of women workers.
• Tabled by PML lawmaker, the House rejected a resolution to reduce the prices of essential items after decrease in prices of petroleum products.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Eight out of 50 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant department. In addition, the legislators raised 19 supplementary questions during the sitting.
• The House took up three adjournment motions regarding low salaries of teachers at private educational institutions, non-implementation of health plan worth Rs. 2.10 billion in Punjab and absence of effective legislation to take action against those selling meat of dead animals or donkeys.
• A PPPP lawmaker’s privilege motion against Secretary Schools Education Department Punjab was also taken up and sent to the relevant standing committee.

Order and Institutionalization

• Six points of order consumed three minutes of the proceedings’ time.

Transparency

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

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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.