ISLAMABAD, August 3, 2015: Low attendance persisted in the sixth sitting of the National Assembly’s ongoing 24th session as only 26 (8%) lawmakers were present at the start and 51 (15%) were present at the time of adjournment of the sitting on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.

The sitting started 25 minutes behind the schedule at 1725 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours and lasted 3 hours and 18 minutes.

Speaker presided 65% of the proceeding’s time while the deputy speaker presided 22% of the time. In addition, 13% of the time was consumed in prayer break.

The lawmakers raised 15 Points of Order that consumed 53 minutes (27%) of the sitting. The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir and the loss of lives and property in rains and flood.

Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights laid the report of the Council of Islamic Ideology for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. In addition, Chairman Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights laid the periodical report of the Committee for the period 06-Nov-2013 to 24-Dec-2014.

Periodical reports of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances and Standing Committee on Science and Technology were deferred to be taken up in any of the next sittings.

In addition, a motion of thanks to express gratitude to the President of Pakistan for addressing the joint sitting on 4th June, 2015 was not taken up. A motion under rule 259 to discuss the death toll resulting from the heat wave in Sindh and other parts of the country, was also not taken up.

Following are some key observations:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 18 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1725 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours.
• The House had a prayer break for 25 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 10 minutes.
• The remaining time was presided by the Deputy Speaker.
• Twenty-six members (8%) were present at the start and 56 (15%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 118 members (35%) attended the proceedings.
• The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI and MQM did not attend the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the proceedings.
• Fourteen members applied for leave.

Output

• Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights laid the report of the Council of Islamic Ideology for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights laid the periodical report of the Committee for the period 06-Nov-2013 to 24-Dec-2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir and the loss of lives and property in rains and flood.
• Fourteen out of 32 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers raised 22 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised 15 Points of Order that consumed 53 minutes (27%) of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

To download the factsheet, click here

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.