ISLAMABAD, August 28, 2012: The Punjab Assembly, which met for only 39 minutes during the second sitting of the 40^th session on Tuesday, again witnessed a walkout by the PPPP and PMLN legislators over the nominations made for the federal commission on new provinces.

During the first sitting on Monday, after exchanging harsh words over the Punjab Assembly not nominating two members for the commission, the legislators from the two parties walked out of the House.

The Chief Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition remained in the House for six minutes. None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting. The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages, was pointed out by a PPPP legislator but the Speaker did not take any action.

Six out of 32 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally six supplementary questions were also asked. Seven Points of Order consumed five minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.

Members’ participation in House proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for only 39 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1127 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings started by an hour and 27 minutes late.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting. The Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition was present.
• None of the parliamentary leaders was present during the sitting.
• Only 11 (3% of the total current membership – 369) Members were present at the outset while 85 (23%) were present at the end of the sitting.
• Three minority Members were present.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Six out of 32 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally six supplementary questions were also asked.

Output

• No Bills appeared on the Orders of the Day.
• Four Resolutions on the agenda were not taken.

Order and institutionalization

• Seven Points of Order consumed five minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• The PPPP and PML Members staged a 31-minute walkout over the nominations made for the federal commission on new provinces.

 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, was pointed out by a PPPP legislator but the Speaker did not take any action.

  

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