ISLAMABAD, August 23, 2013: The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution to condemn drone attacks during the ninth sitting of the fourth session as the House debated the Punjab Pension Fund report for the year 2010 on Friday.

Resolution to condemn drone attacks was tabled by the Law Minister after the government made amendments in the original draft submitted in the House by a PTI legislator.

Six out of the seven starred questions on the agenda about the finance and environmental protection departments were taken up. Additionally, 21 supplementary questions were asked.

The Speaker presided over the entire sitting. The Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition did not attend the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours.
• The sitting started at 10:55 hours, an hour and 55 minutes behind the scheduled start time of 0900 hours.
• Fifty-five Members were present at the time of start as well as at the adjournment of sitting.  A maximum of 90 Members were present at a point of the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting whereas the Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leader of JI attended the sitting.
• No Member applied for leave.
• Four Minority Members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Six out of the seven starred questions on the agenda about the finance and environmental protection departments were taken up. Additionally, 21 supplementary questions were asked.
• Appearing on the agenda, six Members debated the report of the Punjab Pension Fund for the Year 2010.
• Tabled by Law Minister, the House adopted the resolution to condemn drone attacks. Earlier tabled by a PTI Member, the resolution was not adopted.
• A PML-N legislator moved an Adjournment Motion about the need to reconstruct 30 year old overhead bridge in Shakargarh, Narowal.

Order and Institutionalization

• Led by a JI legislator, all opposition parties staged a token walkout for five minutes over interest-based financial system.

Transparency

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

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN, a member organization of FAFEN