ISLAMABAD, August 15, 2013: The National Assembly in its second sitting of the fourth session deferred a motion on the formation of the Standing Committees on Thursday as the Lower House adopted a resolution expressing dismay over the situation in Egypt.

The motion on the formation and composition of the Standing Committees was deferred after the opposition parties – PTI, MQM, JI – objected to the proposed list of Members for various Standing Committees.

Moved by a JI legislator, the House adopted the supplementary resolution expressing dismay and concern over the use of force by Egyptian security forces against protesters opposing the removal of a democratically elected government. It urged the Egyptian government to resolve the constitutional, legal and political issues through dialogue to restore democracy in accordance with the wishes of the people.

The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of Opposition was present for one hour and 53 minutes.

A copy of the President’s address to the joint session of the parliament was laid before the House.

The House did not take up two Calling Attention Notices on the increase in the tariff of electricity and dismantling of railway track in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its sale to steel and furniture factories.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 31 minutes.
• The sitting started 33 minutes late at 1133 hours instead of the scheduled start time of 1100 hours.
• Eighty-four Members were present at the sitting’s start and 75 at the end. At one point, there were a maximum of 168 Members in the House.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 37 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of Opposition was present for one hour and 53 minutes.
• Parliamentary Leaders of JI and QWPS and PTI’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader attended the sitting.
• Seven MNAs applied for leave.
• Six minority Members were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Out of the 31 starred questions on the agenda, nine were raised on the floor of the House with all of them being taken up and answered by the relevant Minister. Additionally, 11 supplementary questions were asked.
• A copy of President’s address, made under Article 56(3) of the Constitution before both Houses assembled together on June 10, 2013 as required by sub-rule (1) of Rule 60 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, was laid before the House.
• A motion on formation and composition of Standing Committees was deferred while a motion of thanks on the President’s address to the joint session of the parliament was tabled.
• None of the two Calling Attention Notices on the agenda were taken up by the House. The notices were on increase in the electricity tariff and dismantling of railway track from Kohat to Hangu and Tall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and being sold to steel and furniture factories
• A resolution tabled by a JI Member on the situation in Egypt was unanimously adopted.
• A JUI-F Member led the Fateha for Maulana Abdul Hameed.

Order and Institutionalization

• MNAs spoke on 26 point of orders for one hour and seven minutes.
• No incident of protest/walkout/ boycott was observed.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to the legislators, observers and others.
• 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