ISLAMABAD, July 14, 2020: The National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed introduction of three private members’ bills and presentation of 19 standing committees’ reports on as many legislative proposals, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 5^th sitting of 23^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for two hours and 36 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1703 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
• The Leaders of House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 77 lawmakers (23%) were present at the outset and 68 (20%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA, PPPP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• As many as six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

  Output

• Three private members’ bills were referred to the relevant committees after their introduction in the House.These bills were the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Islamabad Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020]. (Amendment in Article 259)
• Two bills including the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Prevention of Offences in Sports Bill, 2020 were deferred due to absence of their movers.
• The House did not consider 18 bills, two resolutions, five motions under Rule 259 and an amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly appearing on the agenda.
• Nineteen reports of Standing Committees on as many bills were presented in the House which were the Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2019; the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2020; the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the Federal Newborn Screening Bill, 2019; the Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (Re-organization and Conversion) (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Banking Companies (Recovery of Loans, Advances, Credits and Finances) (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Bill, 2019; the Microfinance Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Press Council of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Export Development (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the National Insurance Corporation (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 25).
• The House approved amendments in the Rules 48, 69 and 112 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007. These amendments were about reciting `Hadith’ after recitation from the Holy Quran followed by its Urdu translation at the commencement of each sitting.
• Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed two separate motions for consideration of the Medical Tribunal Bill, 2019 and the Pakistan Medical Commission Bill, 2019 in the joint sitting as the legislative proposals, sailing smoothly in National Assembly, were not passed by the Senate within ninety days of its laying in the Senate.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding delay in reopening of tourism in northern areas and sacking of PTDC employees.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources responded to another CAN regarding non-representation of Balochistan in Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

Order and Institutionalization

• Fifteen lawmakers including Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ministers for Communications and Water Resources spoke on points of order for an hour and six minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on July 16, 2020 (Thursday) at 1100 hours.

 Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted