• Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, December 22, 2020: The Punjab Assembly adopted four resolutions and referred a private members’ bills to the relevant committee for deliberation, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Tuesday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the second and last sitting of the 27^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 19 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1550 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• The Speaker and Deputy Speaker presided over the proceedings for 52 and 45 minutes respectively while the remaining sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Leaders of the House and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 17 MPAs (5%) were present at the outset and 38 (10%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
• As many as three out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• A PTI lawmaker introduced the Punjab Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which was referred to the relevant committee for consideration. The bill has been jointly sponsored by 13 lawmakers and the relevant committee would submit report on it within two months.
• The House adopted four resolutions, demanding effective implementation of law on free education to children, restoration of NADRA office at Shahdara, Lahore, condemnation of Indian firing on UN vehicle near Line of Control (Loc) in Rawalakot and condolence on the death of former MPA from Punjab, Syed Nazim Hussain Shah.
• Three resolutions on the agenda were rejected by the House and one was withdrawn by its mover.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up eight out of 16 starred questions while the lawmakers also asked 19 supplementary questions.
• Minister for Communication & Works responded to a Zero Hour Notice regarding construction of roads in Tehsil Choa Saidan Shah, District Chakwal.
• Another Zero Hour Notice was not taken up due to absence of the mover.
• An adjournment motion on the agenda was deferred due to absence of relevant minister.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Fourteen lawmakers spoke on points of order for 41 minutes.
• A PML-N lawmaker walked out of the House for three minutes in protest against the non-payment of salaries to the government employees belonging to Christian community ahead of Christmas.
• The Session was adjourned for an indefinite period.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available on Punjab Assembly’s website.
• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by SANGAT Development Foundation – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are regretted.