ISLAMABAD, July 9, 2020: The National Assembly transacted its entire agenda on Thursday but was adjourned due to lack of quorum after opposition’s walkout from the House, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 2^nd sitting of 23^rd session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for two hours and 51 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1122 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
• The Leaders of House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 31 lawmakers (9%) were present at the outset and 52 (15%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA and PPPP attended the sitting.
• As many as five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented reports of the Committee on the Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section-4), the Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section-7) and the Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• On behalf of Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs laid the annual report of Universal Service and Research and Development Fund of the Federal Government.
• Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs presented the annual report of the National Economic Council for the Financial Year, 2018-19.
• A total of six periodical reports of Standing Committees on Railways, Communications, Defence, Privatization, Housing and Works and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan were presented in the House for the period of January – June, 2019 as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding non-grant of Prime Minister Shuhada Assistance package for security personals who sacrificed their lives during terrorist attack at Karachi Stock Exchange and unscheduled load shedding in Karachi by the K- Electric. These CANs were responded to Parliamentary Secretary for Interior and Minister for Energy (Power Division) respectively.

Order and Institutionalization

• Twelve lawmakers including Ministers for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Communications and Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs spoke on points of order for 54 minutes. These issues were mostly related to politics, JIT reports released by the Sindh government and performance of K-Electric.
• The opposition lawmakers walked out of the House at 1317 hours when the Chair gave the floor to Minister for Communications for a political speech through point of order. They did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum at 1318 hours which led to the suspension of the proceedings for 48 minutes after counting. The sitting resumed at 1411 hours but the quorum was found incomplete and the House was adjourned to meet again on July 10, 2020 (Friday) at 1100 hours.

 Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website

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