ISLAMABAD, March 1, 2018: The National Assembly concluded debate on the Presidential address to the Parliament and deferred a government bill related to power sector on Thursday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during first sitting of the 53^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 30 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 25 minutes due to prayer break. .
• The sitting started at 1710 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and six minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leaders of the House and the Opposition were not present.
• As many as 27 (8%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 36 (11%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, QWP and JI attended the sitting.
• As many as four minority members were present.

Output

• The House deferred the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2018 as the Opposition sought more time to review the amendments recommended by the Senate in the bill.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House addressed two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding delay in the establishment of first Women University in Islamabad and expansion of Islamabad due to opening of new sectors by the Capital Development Authority and housing societies. Both CANs were responded to by the State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division.
• Minister for Parliamentary Affairs winded up the debate on the President’s Address to the joint session of the Parliament on June, 1, 2017 during his seven minutes speech.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 18 Points of Order (POs) consuming 47 minutes of the proceedings. They mainly discussed the status of Pakistan before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) while the Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance also spoke on the issue for 19 minutes.
• The Opposition lawmakers walked out of the House at 1938 hours against violation of Water Apportionment Accord of 1991. They did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting at 1940 hours.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 1030 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 proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.