ISLAMABAD, May 24, 2017: The Punjab Assembly ratified the deployment of armed forces in the province for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and extended validity of seven ordinances as well as passed three bills on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fourth sitting of 29^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and five minutes; while the proceedings remained suspended for an hour due to lack of quorum.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 52 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and three minutes.
• Twenty MPAs (5%) were present at the outset and 27 (7%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JI, and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The Assembly adopted a resolution under Article 147 read with Article 245 of the Constitution to ratify the deployment of Special Security Division (SSD) Troops for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects across the Punjab province.
• The House adopted seven resolutions under Article 128(2)(a) of the Constitution to extend the period of validity of the Punjab Women Protection Authority Ordinance 2017, the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Ordinance 2017, the Punjab Boilers and Pressure Vessels (Amendment) Ordinance 2017, the Rawalpindi Medical University Ordinance 2017, the Faisalabad Medical University Ordinance 2017, the Nishtar Medical University Ordinance 2017 and the Police Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 for a further period of 90 days.
• Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs laid the Rawalpindi Medical University Ordinance 2017, the Faisalabad Medical University Ordinance 2017, the Nishtar Medical University Ordinance 2017 and the Police Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 in the House.
• The government also laid the Annual Reports on Observance and Implementation of Principles of Policy for the Years 2011, 2012 & 2013, the Annual Reports of the Ombudsman, Punjab for the Years 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 and the Annual Reports of the Punjab Public Service Commission for the Years 2014 & 2015.
• The House passed the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill 2017, the Punjab Women Protection Authority Bill 2017 and the Punjab Boilers and Pressure Vessels (Amendment) Bill 2017. Six lawmakers debated the Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill for 40 minutes while five legislators spoke on Women Protection Authority Bill 2017 consuming 22 minutes of the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as three out of 18 Starred Questions were responded to by the government during Question Hour. Twelve questions were deferred due to the absence of relevant minister while three questions were disposed of due to the absence of their movers. The lawmakers also asked three supplementary questions.
• The House deferred five Adjournment Motions of JI, PML and PTI lawmakers on request of the government.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 11 Points of Order consuming nine minutes of the proceedings.
• The PTI lawmakers pointed out quorum thrice at 1145 hours, 1344 hours and 1424 hours. The bells were rung on each occasion and the proceedings were suspended for first and third time for 40 and 20 minutes, respectively.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.