ISLAMABAD, August 20, 2013: Points of order consumed 88% of the proceedings during the fifth sitting of the National Assembly’s fourth session on Tuesday as parliamentarians expressed views on floods and law and order situation in the country.

A total of 39 points of order consumed two hours and 58 minutes of the sitting which lasted three hours and 23 minutes.

On the private members’ day, the House took up three of the 19 agenda items on the orders of the day. A resolution on beggary in Islamabad was adopted as the National Assembly took up a motion under rule 259 on Pakistani embassies’ expenditures abroad and a calling attention notice on broken electricity transformers in Buner.

However two bills, a calling attention notice on terrorist attack in Bhara Kahu, four resolutions, and four motions under rule 259 on the orders of the day were not taken up.

The sitting was chaired by Speaker for one hour and 10 minutes, while the remaining proceedings of two hours and 13 minutes were chaired by a member of the Panel of the Chairpersons.

The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition remained present for 10 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PkMAP, QWPS, AMLP, APML and deputy parliamentary leader of PTI were also present.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• National Assembly met for three hours and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started 22 minutes late at 1052 hours instead of the scheduled 1030 hours.
• The speaker chaired the sitting for one hour and ten minutes, while a member of the Panel of Chairpersons chaired the remaining proceedings.
• A total of 36 members were present at the start of the sitting, 31 at the end and a maximum of 102 at a point during the sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting and the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 10 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PkMAP, QWPS, AMLP, APML and deputy parliamentary leader of PTI were present.
• Eight minority members were present.
• Twenty eight MNAs applied for leave.

Output

• A resolution was moved by PML-N parliamentarian, urging the government to take effective steps to end beggary in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A motion under rule 259 was moved by a PML-N MNA to discuss the extravagant spending of Pakistani embassies abroad.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice by two JI MNAs on inoperative electric transformers in most of the villages of district Buner.

Order and Institutionalization

• MNAs spoke on 39 Points of Order consuming two hours and 58 minutes of the proceedings.

• No incident of protest/walkout/ boycott was observed.

Transparency

• The Assembly documented the members’ attendance.
• 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