ISLAMABAD, September 16: The Surveying and Mapping Ordinance 2013 was laid as seven members took part in the debate on the June 10 Presidential Address to the Joint Sitting of the Parliament during the first sitting of the fifth session of the National Assembly on Monday.

Out of two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) on the Agenda, the National Assembly took up the CAN on the delay in the commencement of work on the Golan Goal Hydropower Project, resulting in loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The second CAN on the issue of the deaths of children under the age of five, underweight births, and children suffering from mal-nutrition was not taken up.

Out of 36 questions on the agenda, six were taken up. Additionally, MNAs asked 11 supplementary questions.

The MQM legislators walked out from the House for 27 minutes at 1815 hours over the law and order situation in Karachi.

Seven legislators took part in the debate on the June 10 address of the President to the parliament for one hour and 21 minutes.

The House also offered Fateha for army officials who embraced martyrdom in Upper Dir.

The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 27 minutes, while the Deputy Speaker chaired the remaining proceedings. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

Six newly-elected MNAs took oath. Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

The house was adjourned for Tuesday morning after a PTI legislator pointed out the lack of quorum at 1947 hours. A head count found the quorum incomplete.

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 22 minutes. The House took a break of 37 minutes for prayers.
• The sitting started 28 minutes late at 1628 hours, instead of the scheduled start time of 1600 hours.
• Sixty MNAs were present at the sitting’s start and 76 at the end. At one point, there were a maximum of 144 MNAs in the House.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 27 minutes, while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PTI, PkMAP and QWP attended the proceedings.
• Six newly-elected MNAs took oath.
• A Panel of Chairpersons was announced.
• Four MNAs applied for leave.
• Five minority MNAs were present.

Output

• The Surveying and Mapping Ordinance 2013 was laid.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The National Assembly took a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) about the delay in the commencement of work on Golan Goal Hydropower Project, resulting in loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.
• Seven MNAs – two each from PPPP and MQM and one each from PML-N, PTI and JI – debated the President’s address to the parliament for one hour and 21 minutes.
• A privilege motion moved by a PPPP legislator was deferred. The motion was about certain allegations against the Leader of the Opposition.

 Order and Institutionalization

• MNAs spoke on four Points of Order for seven minutes.
• MQM legislators staged a walk out from the House for 27 minutes at 1815 hours over law and order situation in Karachi.
• Six out of 36 starred questions on the agenda were taken up on the floor and received answers from ministers. Additionally, MNAs asked 11 supplementary questions.
• A PTI legislator pointed out the lack of quorum at 1947 hours. A head count found the quorum incomplete, following which the session was adjourned for the next day.

Transparency

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

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