ISLAMABAD, June 16, 2013: Seventeen lawmakers debated the federal budget 2013-14 during the third sitting of the second session on Sunday. A resolution condemning the acts of terrorism in Balochistan was also unanimously adopted.

Seventeen legislators – four of PPPP, three each of PMLN, PTI, JUIF, and one each of JI, ANP, NP and an independent member – expressed their views about the budget.

A maximum of 187 members were present at one point during the sitting, which lasted five hours and 25 minutes. As many as 112 members were present at the outset of the sitting while 58 were there at the time of adjournment.

Sponsored by the law minister and adopted unanimously, the resolution condemned the attack on Ziarat Residency, Quetta attacks, and kidnapping of five doctors in Loralai. A Calling Attention Notice regarding unnecessary delay in issuance of passports was also taken up.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for five hours and 25 minutes. There was a break of 63 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1140 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1130 hours, witnessing the delay 10 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 36 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a member of the Panel of the Chairpersons. The Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 55 minutes.
• The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization attended the sitting for 25 minutes.
• A total of 112 members were present at the outset, while 58 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 187 members were present at one point of sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Six members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Seventeen legislators – four of PPPP, three each of PMLN, PTI, JUIF, and one each of JI, ANP, NP and an independent member – expressed their views about the budget for three hours and 51 minutes – 71% of the sitting time.
• A Calling Attention Notice regarding unnecessary delay in issuance of passports was taken up.
• The other Calling Attention Notices appearing on the Orders of the Day was not taken up. It was about desecration of the Holy Quran’s verses printed in newspapers.

Output

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the acts of terrorism in Balochistan. The resolution condemned the attack on Ziarat Residency, Quetta attacks, and kidnapping of five doctors in Loralai.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five points of order consumed seven minutes of the sitting time. None of the points of order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• No instance of walkout, protest, or walkout observed during the sitting.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was 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