ISLAMABAD, June 21, 2014: The National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2014 and also adopted three resolutions during 14th (last) sitting of 12th Session on Saturday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet. It is the second budget of the incumbent government.
Three members – Finance Minister, PPPP female lawmaker and sole member of AMLP- shared their views about the Finance Bill for 52 minutes.
The House also approved the supplementary Demands for Grants and appropriations for the years 2013-14. PPPP female lawmaker spoke for 25 minutes on it.
Tabled by Federal Minister for Defense Production, the House unanimously adopted two resolutions. In the first resolution, the lawmakers paid tribute to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her birth anniversary while the other resolution condemned the dastardly fatal attack on MQM female lawmaker Tahira Asif and demanded arrest of culprits involved in this heinous crime.
Tabled by Minister for Science and Technology, the House adopted another resolution giving approval to further extend Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 for a period of 120 days.
The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 57 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for four hours and 42 minutes.
The House offered Fateha for the assassinated leader of PPPP Benazir Bhutto.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:
- The National Assembly met for seven hours and 15 minutes.
- The House had a prayer break of 54 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1010 hours against the scheduled time of 0930 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 57 minutes, Finance Minister for three hours and 55 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for four hours and 42 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, APML, MQM, PML-F and BNP attended the sitting.
- Ninety-six lawmakers were present at the outset while 67 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 216 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- Eight minority members attended the sitting.
- Thirteen members applied for leave.
Output
- The House passed the Finance Bill, 2014 with majority.
- Three lawmakers- Finance Minister, PPPP female lawmaker and sole member of AMLP- shared their views about the Finance Bill for 52 minutes.
- The House also approved supplementary Demands for Grants and appropriations for the year 2013-2014. PPPP female lawmaker debated it for 22 minutes.
- Tabled by Federal Minister for Defense Production, the House adopted two resolutions. In the first resolution, the lawmakers paid tribute to the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her birth anniversary while other resolution condemned the dastardly fatal attack on MQM female lawmaker and demanded arrest of culprit involved in this heinous crime.
- Table by Minister for Science and Technology, the House adopted another resolution giving the approval to extend Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 for a further period of 120 days.
- Minister for Finance laid following papers in the house. (1) Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2014-15 (2) Supplementary Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2013-14 (3) Excess Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Moved by Minister for Science and Technology, the House unanimously passed a motion to present the questions of this session (12th) in the next session (13th) so that these may not lapse.
- Another motion moved by Minister for Science and Technology was also unanimously approved by the House which was regarding appointment of three lawmakers as members of Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers raised 23 points of order consuming 50 minutes of the proceedings.
- There were no incidents of protests, walkouts and boycotts.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. This 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. Errors and omissions excepted
