ISLAMABAD, May 6, 2021: The Punjab Assembly transacted one third agenda and adopted two private members’ resolutions on Thursday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the third sitting of the 31st session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 19 minutes.
• The sitting started at 01:06 pm against the scheduled time of 11:30 am.
• The speaker chaired the sitting for 56 minutes while the rest of the sitting was presided over by a member of panel of chairpersons.
• The deputy speaker was absent.
• The leader of the House (chief minister) and the opposition leader did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 22 MPAs (six percent) were present at the outset and 37 (ten percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
• One out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• The House passed a private members’ bill namely the Nur International University Lahore (Amendment) Bill 2021. It was sponsored by two lawmakers belonging to PTI and PML.
• The House adopted two resolutions demanding ban on the use of fake currency notes and raise awareness among citizens to properly handle the sacred Islamic content. These resolutions were sponsored by PML-N and PML lawmakers.
• Another five resolutions on the agenda were deferred due to absence of movers and relevant ministers.
• A PTI lawmaker withdrew his resolution demanding immediate ban on unhygienic food. Minister for public prosecution assured prompt action to the mover against those involved in selling such food items.
• Sponsored by a PTI lawmaker, the House disposed off a resolution after receiving the reply from the concerned ministry. The resolution was regarding verification and issuance of fitness certificate to the commercial vehicles

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up three out of 24 starred questions related to Higher Education Department. Besides, the lawmakers asked five supplementary question. 
• Minister for law responded to two zero hour notices regarding non-availability of staff at Revenue Department in Faisalabad and violence incident by women Police in Madrassa of District Kasur. These notices were sponsored by PML-N and PTI lawmakers, respectively.
• The House did not take up six other zero hour notices due to absence of relevant movers.
• A privilege motion of PTI lawmaker was referred to the relevant committee which was regarding inappropriate behaviour of forest conservator Bahawalpur
• The House deferred three adjournment motions (AMs) due to absence of relevant ministers. These AMs s were about illegal hunting of birds and animals in the province, frauds in registration of auctioned vehicles and high fees being charged by diagnostic laboratories in the province.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Sixteen lawmakers spoke on points of order for 42 minutes related to governance issues, wheat procurement and absence of ministers during proceedings.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 09:00 am.

Transparency

• ‘List of Business’ 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