ISLAMABAD, February 19, 2016: The Punjab Assembly continued the discussion on Orange Line Train project on Thursday during 16^th sitting of its 19^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 43 minutes.
• The sitting started at 0953 hours against the scheduled time 0900 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and four minutes.
• Five MPAs (1%) were present at outset and 65 (17%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of PML-Z attended the sitting.
• Five minority members were present.

Output

• The Chairman Standing Committee on Services & General Administration laid before the House the report of the committee on the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The government orally answered to eight out of 14 starred questions appearing on agenda while five questions were disposed of due to absence of relevant lawmakers and one was deferred. The lawmakers also asked 14 supplementary questions.
• The government replied to an adjournment motion submitted by a female lawmaker belonging to PPPP.
• Twelve lawmakers including the Provincial Law Minister took part in the discussion on Orange Line Train project. The discussion consumed 71 minutes of the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on six points of order consuming seven minutes of the proceeding.
• A lawmaker belonging to PTI walked out from the House at 1225 hours against not being allowed to continue his speech during the discussion on Orange Line Train project. He did not return to the House.
• Another lawmaker belonging to PTI pointed out quorum at 1231 hours. It was found lacking on counting and was not completed even after ringing the bells for five minutes resulting in the adjournment of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

To download the factsheet in Urdu, click here

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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.