ISLAMABAD, June 18, 2013: As many as 25 lawmakers took part in the budget debate in the fifth sitting of the ongoing session which met for seven hours and 47 minutes on Tuesday.

The 25 members – six each of PPPP and PTI, three each of PMLN and MQM, two JUIF, and one member each of JI, PKMAP, APML, PMLF and an Independent – expressed views on the budget for five hours and 45 minutes. The PPPP and PTI members dominated the budget debate as they spoke for 98 and 84 minutes respectively.

The Prime Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and 51 minutes. The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 31 minutes while the remaining time was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.

Two calling attention notices highlighting the non-formulation of a clear government policy on drone attacks and another on prolonged daily load shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were taken up by the house.

Consuming 10 minutes of the session, members spoke on seven POs.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for seven hours and 47 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1040 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1030 hours, witnessing the delay 10 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 31 minutes while the rest of the proceedings (four hours and three minutes) were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for three hours and 51 minutes.
• A total of 40 members were present at the start and 26 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 168 members were present at one point of sitting.
• Eight minority members attended the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.
• The House took an hour and 13 minutes lunch and prayer break.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Two Calling Attention Notices on the Orders of the Day were taken up. The first was regarding non-formulation of a clear government policy on drone attacks and the other on prolonged daily load shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, causing grave concern amongst the public.
• An MQM member moved a Question of Privilege on misbehavior of Director General of Passport and immigration. The issue was referred to the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges.

Output

• Twenty five MNAs took part in budget for five hours and 45 minutes. Six PPPP members spoke for 98 minutes, followed by as many PTI MNAs (84 minutes), three members each of PMLN (32 minutes) and MQM (30 minutes), two JUIF members (17 minutes), and a single member each of JI (27 minutes), PMAP (19), APML (14) and an independent and PMLF member each spoke for 12 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on seven Points of Order consuming 10 minutes.
• No instances of protests, boycotts and walkouts were recorded during the sitting.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
• Copies of the budget speech were available to the legislators.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI); a member organization of FAFEN