ISLAMABAD, February 15, 2012: Starting two hours and 10 minutes behind schedule, the first sitting of the 34th session of the Punjab Assembly lasted an hour and 40 minutes.
It witnessed low attendance of Members with 30 present at the outset and only 10 when the sitting was adjourned.
A Resolution regarding “the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) may, by law, regulate matters relating to drugs and a medicine” was adopted.
The Bank of Punjab (Amendment) Bill 2011 was not taken up by the House.
The Quorum, visibly lacking, was pointed out by a Member of PPPP. The Speaker called the bell to be rung five minutes and suspended the proceedings for 35 minutes.
A total of 27 questions listed for the Question Hour were bypassed.
The Chief Minister was absent while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 40 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1210 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The House proceedings started two hours and 10 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 60 minutes.
- Only the parliamentary leader of the PML attended the sitting while those of MMAP, PMLF and PMLZ were absent.
- Thirty Members (8% of the total Membership of 369) were present at the start while 10 (3%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
- Two minority Members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Twenty seven questions were listed for the Question Hour which were bypassed.
Output
- The Bank of Punjab (Amendment) Bill 2011 was not taken up by the House.
- A Resolution regarding “the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) may, by law, regulate matters relating to drugs and a medicine” was adopted.
Order and Institutionalization
- Eleven Points of Order were raised during the sitting which consumed 40 minutes.
- There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
- The Quorum, visibly lacking, was pointed out by a Member of PPPP.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
