ISLAMABAD, March 26, 2015: The National Assembly passed three government bills amid low attendance of lawmakers on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 18 minutes behind the schedule with 41 lawmakers (12%) present at the start and 10 (3%) at the time of adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for 70% of the proceedings’ time.

The House passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2014 which was introduced on December 9, 2013; the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (First Amendment) Bill 2013 introduced on September 8, 2013; and the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Second Amendment) Bill 2013 introduced on November 11, 2013.

The House also took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding illegal fishing along the Sindh coastline and discontinuation of a convenient policy to obtain CNICs and passports for overseas Pakistanis. However, a motion to discuss the energy crisis and recent fuel shortage was left unaddressed.

The following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 33 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1118 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 14 minutes, while the remaining time was presided over by a member of the Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Prime Minister was absent.
• The Opposition Leader was present for two hours and 30 minutes.
• 41 lawmakers (12%) were present at the start and 10 (3%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 115 members (34%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PTI, JUI-F, PML, NP, AMLP and AJIP were absent.
• Eight minority members attended the sitting.
• 18 members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2014, the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (First Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Second Amendment) Bill 2013.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding illegal fishing along the Sindh coastline and discontinuation of a convenient policy to obtain CNICs and passports for overseas Pakistanis.
• Ten out of 34 questions were taken up and responded by the relevant ministries/departments. In addition, the MNAs raised 14 supplementary questions.
• A motion under Rule 259 to discuss the energy crisis and recent fuel shortage was left unaddressed.

Order and Institutionalization

• Eight points of orders (POs) consumed 34 minutes (16%) of the sitting.
• PPPP members walked out of the House at 1405 hours to protest the baton-charge on farmers in Lahore and did not return till the sitting’s adjournment
• MQM members also walked out at 1414 hours to condemn the PTI chief’s remarks against their party leader and did not return to the House till the end of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
• The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers.

To download the document, click here

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. 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