ISLAMABAD, September 2, 2013: The fourth session of the Punjab assembly was prorogued after holding a general discussion on proposals for wheat support price in its 15^th sitting on Monday.

Sixteen lawmakers – 12 PMLN, two PTI and one each of JI and PML – took part in the discussion lasting an hour and 16 minutes.

Out of six starred questions on the List of Business about the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, five were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions.

The Speaker chaired the entire proceedings. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Leader of Opposition was present for an hour. Only the JI parliamentary leader attended the sitting.

The entire opposition observed a 20-minute walkout as the Speaker refused to take up a supplementary resolution on increase in petroleum prices.

Eleven MPAs took oath during the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 22 minutes.
• The sitting started two hour late at 1700 hours, instead of the scheduled 1500 hours.
• There were 74 MPAs present at the start, 24 at the end and a maximum of 107 at one point in the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the entire proceedings whereas the Deputy Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Leader of Opposition attended an hour of the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leader of JI attended the sitting.
• No MPA applied for leave.
• Five minority Members attended the sitting.
• Eleven MPAs took oath.

Representation and Responsiveness

Out of six starred questions on the List of Business about the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, five were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions.

·         The assembly discussed on proposals for the wheat support price for an hour and 16 minutes. Twelve PMLN lawmakers shared their views for 50 minutes, followed by two PTI MPAs (10 minutes), and a single member each of JI and PML spoke for 12 and four minutes respectively.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators spoke for 10 minutes on six points of order.
• A 20-minute walkout was staged by the entire opposition as the Speaker refused to take up a supplementary resolution on increase in petroleum prices.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on legislators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.  

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