ISLAMABAD, July 17, 2012: The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and five minutes during the second sitting of the 39th session on Tuesday continued to witness low attendance – only 28 legislators (8% of the total current membership – 369) were present at the outset and 26 at the adjournment.
The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, along with the parliamentary leaders of PML, PMLF and PMLZ, did not attend the proceedings. The Quorum was visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting. However, the lack of quorum was not pointed out by any of the Members.
Ten Points of Order consumed 23 minutes. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
The House adopted a Resolution acknowledging the services of Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, who died in April this year.
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and five minutes.
- The sitting started at 1145 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings started by an hour and 45 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 15 minutes while the remaining time presided over by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons. The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
- Only the parliamentary leader of the MMAP was present while those of PML, PMLF and PMLZ did not attend the sitting.
- Only 28 (8% of the total current membership – 369) Members were present at the outset while 26 (7%) were present at the end of the sitting.
- Three minority Members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Thirteen out of 35 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 30 supplementary questions were also asked.
Output
- The House adopted a Resolution acknowledging the services of Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry.
- No Bills appeared on the Orders of the Day.
Order and institutionalization
- Ten Points of Order consumed 23 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 was visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting. However, lack of quorum was not pointed out by any Member.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
