ISLAMABAD, March 19, 2014: The provincial legislators kick started pre-budget discussion during ninth sitting of the ongoing 7^th session of the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Six lawmakers belonging to treasury benches discussed the fiscal budget 2014-2015 for 35 minutes. The members suggested the government to allocate higher share of budget amount to the education and health sectors.

The provincial education minister responded to seven out of 34 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The members asked 24 supplementary questions as well.

The lawmakers also discussed a privilege motion moved by a treasury member against a column published in a section of press regarding derogatory comments about members of the provincial assembly. The motion was deferred for a later sitting.

A PTI lawmaker walked out of the House when his speech on privilege motion was discontinued by the Chair. Later the entire opposition walked out when the Chair denied the floor to another opposition lawmaker. A treasury legislator brought the disgruntled fellow members back to the House on the directives of the Chair. The opposition members once again walked out of the House against the alleged verbal harassment of a PTI female lawmaker by a provincial minister. The walkout lasted for 37 minutes.

The proceedings remained suspended for nine minutes after a PML legislator pointed out quorum. The House resumed the sitting on finding quorum complete after the recount.

The Chair ruled that no adjournment motion would be admissible for discussion unless 106 members of the House voted for it. Under the new rule, an adjournment motion of a female lawmaker was disposed of as it could get the support of only four lawmakers.

The lawmakers also raised 17 points of order consuming 22 minutes of the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 25 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1140 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 40 minutes.
• A total of 40 members were present at the start, 26 at the adjournment while a maximum 107 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 an hour and 54 minutes.
• The parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
• Five minority members were present.
• No member applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Six treasury lawmakers discussed the fiscal budget 2014-2015 for 35 minutes. The members suggested government to allocate higher share of budget for education and health sectors.
• The provincial education minister responded to seven out of 34 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The members asked 24 supplementary questions as well.
• The House took up a privilege motion of a treasury member against a column published in a section of press regarding derogatory comments about members of the provincial assembly. The motion was deferred for a later sitting.
• The Chair ruled that no adjournment motion would be admissible for discussion unless 106 members of the House voted for it. Under the new rule, an adjournment motion of a female lawmaker was disposed of as it could get the support of only four lawmakers.

Order and Institutionalization

• A PTI lawmaker walked out of the House when his speech on privilege motion was discontinued by the Chair. Later the entire opposition walked out when the Chair denied the floor to another opposition lawmaker. A treasury legislator brought the disgruntled fellow members back to the House on the directives of the Chair. The opposition members once again walked out of the House against the alleged verbal harassment of a PTI female lawmaker by a provincial minister. The walkout lasted for 37 minutes.
• The proceedings remained suspended for nine minutes after a PML legislator pointed out quorum. However, the House resumed its sitting on finding quorum complete after the recount.
• The lawmakers also raised 17 points of order consuming 22 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