ISLAMABAD, August 27, 2012: Starting two hours and 45 minutes behind schedule, the first sitting of 40th session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed low attendance of MPAs with only 42 present at the outset and 62 when it was adjourned.
The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was pointed out by a PPPP Member which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
Fourteen Points of Order raised during the sitting consumed 15 minutes of the sitting time. None of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
The PPPP and PML Members staged a 35-minute walkout over the nominations made for the commission on new provinces.
Seven Bills appearing on the Orders of the Day were not taken up by the House.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 51 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1745 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours. The proceedings started two hours and 45 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 50 minutes.
- Only the parliamentary leader of the MMAP was present.
- A total of 42 Members (11% of the total Membership of 369) were present at the start while 62 (17%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
- Five minority Members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Question Hour was not held during the sitting.
Output
- Seven Bills appearing on the Orders of the Day were not taken up by the House.
Order and Institutionalization
- Fourteen Points of Order were raised during the sitting which consumed 15 minutes. None of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
- The PPPP and PML Members staged a 35-minute walkout over the nominations made for the commission on new provinces.
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 of the sitting, was pointed out by a PPPP Member which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
