ISLAMABAD, April 29, 2019: The absence of the ministers during Question Hour on Monday led to the suspension of the House proceedings for ten minutes, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during sixth sitting of the ninth session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for four hours and 20 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 34 minutes due to prayer breaks.
• The proceedings started at 1606 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 39 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
• The Leaders of the House and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 38 lawmakers (11%) were present at the outset and 50 (15%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA, PML-N, BAP, AMLP and MMAP attended the sitting.
• Six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• Moved by the State Minister for Parliamentary Affair, the House passed the Heavy Industries Taxila Board (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
• Tabled by the Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the House passed a resolution to extend the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 2019 for a further period of 120 days with effect from May 5, 2019.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Human Rights responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding poor human rights conditions in the country and death of a child due to doctor’s negligence at a private hospital in Karachi.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce responded another CAN about abolishing the cadre of Sales Officers in State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan.
• The House did not take up Motion under Rule 259 and Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament.
• The House took up nine out of 36 Starred Questions, while the lawmakers asked 21 supplementary questions as well.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five lawmakers raised matters under Rule 18 and spoke for 51 minutes.
• PML-N lawmakers protested on floor of the House for three minutes against remarks of Minister for Aviation during the question hour.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on April 30, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1600 hours.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted