ISLAMABAD, July 18, 2012: The Punjab Assembly, which met for three hours and 35 minutes during the third sitting of the 39th session on Wednesday, passed eleven bills amid lack of quorum.
The quorum, visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting, was pointed out twice by one Member each of PML and PPPP. On both occasions the sitting resumed after five minutes as the quorum was completed.
Only 28 (8% of the total current membership – 369) Members were present at the outset while 37 (10%) were present at the end of the sitting. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition along with the parliamentary leaders of MMAP, PMLF and PMLZ did not attend the sittings.
Twelve Bills appeared on the Orders of the Day. Although the quorum was called twice, eleven Bills were still passed without the mandatory one-fourth of the membership.
Seven out of 23 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 20 supplementary questions were also asked.
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 35 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1235 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings started by two hours and 35 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
- Only the parliamentary leader of the PML was present while those of MMAP, PMLF and PMLZ did not attend the sitting.
- Only 28 (8% of the total current membership – 369) Members were present at the outset while 37 (10%) were present at the end of the sitting.
- Three minority Members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven out of 23 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 20 supplementary questions were also asked.
Output
- Twelve Bills appeared on the Orders of the Day. Although the quorum was called twice, eleven Bills were still passed without the mandatory one-fourth of the membership.
Order and institutionalization
- Five Points of Order consumed three minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
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 at various stages during the sitting, was pointed out twice by one Member each of PML and PPPP. On both occasions the sitting resumed after five minutes as the quorum was completed.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
