ISLAMABAD, August 21: The National Assembly approved the motion calling for forming 34 Standing Committees during the sixth sitting of its fourth session on Wednesday.

The motion called for forming Standing Committees on Public Accounts, Rules of Procedure and Privileges, House and Library, Government Assurances, Finance Committee of the National Assembly, the Standing Committees for various Ministries and Special Committee on Kashmir. The motion also carried the names of the members for the Standing Committees. The motion also authorized the Speaker “to include any member and make such changes in the composition of these Committees, as and when he may deem fit.”

Out of 26 starred questions on the agenda, six were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 18 supplementary questions.

The sitting was chaired by Deputy Speaker. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting and the Leader of Opposition attended it for 15 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, JI, PkMAP, AMLP and PTI’s deputy parliamentary leader were present.

Twelve minutes before the end of the sitting, JUI (F) legislators walked out of the House against postponement of by-elections in Tank (NA-25) and did not return to attend the rest of the proceedings.

The Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 was laid before the House. The report of the federal accounts for 2011-2012 and the reports of the Auditor General for the audit year, 2012-2013 were also presented in the House.

Two Calling Attention Notices by four PML-N members and a PTI lawmaker on unnecessary delay in the construction of Expressway from Khanewal to Lodhran and the terrorist attack in Bhara Khau Islamabad were taken up.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings.

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 20 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1055 hours against the scheduled timings of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 25 minutes.
• Forty-seven members were present at the start of the sitting and 77 at the end. At one point, there was a maximum 126 members in the House.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 15 minutes.
• Parliamentary leaders of PPP, JI, PkMAP, AMLP and deputy parliamentary leader of PTI were present.
• Thirteen members applied for leave.
• Seven minority members were present.

Output

• The Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 was laid in the House.
• The report of the federal accounts for 2011-2012 and the reports of the Auditor General for the audit year 2012-2013 were presented in the House.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A motion for the constitution of 34 Standing Committees was approved by the House.
• Two Calling Attention Notices regarding unnecessary delay in the construction of Expressway from Khanewal to Lodhran and terrorist attack in Bhara Khau Islamabad were taken up.
• Out of 26 starred questions on the agenda, six were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 18 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• MNAs spoke on 21 points of orders consuming 32 minutes of the proceedings.
• JUI (F) legislators observed a token walkout against the postponement of the by-elections in Tank (NA-25).

Transparency

• The Assembly documented the members’ attendance.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

The 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