ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2012: Starting an hour and 50 minutes behind schedule, the first sitting of 39th session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed low attendance of MPAs with only 20 present at the outset and 56 when it was adjourned.
The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was pointed out by PPPP Member which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
Seven Points of Order were raised during the sitting which consumed 15 minutes. None of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
Seven out of 33 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 21 supplementary questions were also asked.
One Calling Attention Notice about a death due to a firing incident in Lahore was taken up by the House.
The House did not take up by the General Discussion agenda item about situation arising from the strike of young doctors.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for an hour and 45 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1650 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours. The proceedings started an hour and 50 minutes late.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 35 minutes.
- Only the parliamentary leader of the MMAP was present.
- A total of 20 Members (5% of the total Membership of 369) were present at the start while 56 (15%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
- Two minority Members were present.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven out of 33 questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 21 supplementary questions were also asked.
- One Calling Attention Notice about a death due to a firing incident in Lahore was taken up by the House.
- The House did not take up by the General Discussion agenda item about situation arising from the strike of young doctors.
Output
- No Bills appeared on the Orders of the Day.
Order and Institutionalization
- Seven Points of Order were raised during the sitting which consumed 15 minutes. None of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
- There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
- The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, was pointed out by PPPP Member which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
