ISLAMABAD, August 31, 2015: Fourth sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s ongoing 16th session continued to be marked by low attendance – with 17 (5%) legislators present at the start and 30 (8%) at the time of adjournment on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.

Quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, however, it was not pointed out by any of the members. The Chief Minister and parliamentary leaders of all parties did not attend the sitting whereas the Opposition Leader attended the sitting for 57 minutes.

Provincial Minister for Law presented five reports before the House; these included the Financial Statement of Government of the Punjab for the financial year 2008-2009; the Audit Report on the Accounts of Drought Recovery Assistance Program Project (DRAPP) Punjab for year 2009-2010; the Audit Report on Management of Hill Torrents in CRBC Area (Stage-III) in D.G Khan and Taunsa District Dera Ghazi Khan, Irrigation Department for audit year 2011-12; the Audit Report on dualization of Lahore – Faisalabad – Jhang – Bhakkar Road (length 42-33 KM), Communication & Works Department for audit year 2011-12 and the Audit Report on Dualization of Faisalabad Sammundri Road (Section between Faisalabad Bypass of Sammundri), Communication & Works Department for audit year 2012-13.

Following are some of the key observations:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and two minutes.
• The sitting started at 1552 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• Seventeen (5%) members were present at the start and 30 (8%) at the time of adjournment of the sitting.
• Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 57 minutes.
• None of the parliamentary leader attended the sitting.
• Three out of eight minority members attended the proceedings.

Output

• Provincial Minister for Law presented the Financial Statement of Government of the Punjab for the financial year 2008-2009. He also presented four other audit reports of various departments in the House.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twelve out of 23 starred questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant government departments. In addition, the lawmakers raised 19 supplementary questions.
• The House took two Adjournment Motions (AMs) regarding purchase of medicines by health department at higher rates and agricultural loss during flood in a village of Sahiwal.
• Three out of six Calling Attention Notices (CANs) appearing on the agenda regarding law and order were also taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers raised 14 Points of Order, which consumed 22 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and others.

To download the factsheet, click here

This 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.