ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2018: The National Assembly continued general discussion on the Annual Budget 2018-19 on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during the seventh sitting of the 56th session:
Members’ Participation
- The National Assembly met for five hours and 40 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1043 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 28 minutes, Deputy Speaker for two hours and four minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for 42 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was not present.
- As many as 41 lawmakers (12%) were present at the outset and 12 (4%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PPPP, PML-Z, JI and APML attended the sitting.
- Six minority lawmakers were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Twenty-six lawmakers took part in the debate on annual budget 2018-19. The discussion continued for four hours and 20 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Fifteen lawmakers spoke on as many points of order consuming 61 minutes of the proceedings. These were mainly about adopting a motion to constitute special committee which may summon Chairman NAB and ask him about his orders to investigate money laundering allegations against Nawaz Sharif.
- A lawmaker spoke on a point of personal explanation for two minutes.
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.
