ISLAMABAD, April 7, 2016: Starting 57 minutes behind the scheduled time, the Punjab Assembly on Thursday held pre-budget discussion for 57% (138 minutes) of the sitting time, say Free and Fair Election Network.

The sitting started at 1057 hours against its scheduled time of 1000 hours with 10 legislators (3%) present at the start and 15 (4%) at the time of its adjournment.

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceeding

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and three minutes.
• The sitting started at 1057 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and nine minutes while rest of the proceeding was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 62 minutes.
• Ten lawmakers (3%) were present at the start and 15 (4%) at the end of the sitting.
• Only PPPP Parliamentary Leader was present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty lawmakers – PML-N (14), PTI (4), PML (2) – participated in pre-budget discussion for 138 minutes.
• Six of the nine starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. In addition, lawmakers asked 16 supplementary questions.
• A Question of Privilege raised by PML-N lawmaker against DCO Veharri was taken up.
• Five adjournment motions were kept pending due to non-submission of their replies.

Order and Institutionalization

• The entire Opposition staged protest within the House for 14 minutes after the Chair disallowed the Opposition Leader to submit AM about Panama Leaks.
• Seven Points of Order consumed nine minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

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

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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.