ISLAMABAD, July 19, 2012: Despite lack of quorum the Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed a bill during the fourth sitting of the 39th session. Only 2% MPAs were observed to be present at the beginning and 9% at the end of the sitting.
Three of the treasury-backed bills were introduced and sent to the relevant standing committees, whereas the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2011 was passed.
The Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition along with all the party heads did not attend the proceedings.
Of the 35 starred questions (requiring oral answer) on the agenda, 15 were raised and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 29 supplementary questions were also asked.
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours.
- The sitting started at 1210 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings were delayed by two hours and 10 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were not present.
- All the parliamentary leaders did not attend the sittings.
- Seven Members (2% of the total membership) were present at the start while 33 (9%) were there when the sitting was adjourned. A maximum of 69 Members (19%) were present at one point of the sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Fifteen out of 35 questions appearing on the Orders of the Day were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, 29 supplementary questions were asked.
- The relevant minister responded to a single Calling Attention Notice raised by a PML legislator.
Output
- The Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2011 was passed while three Bills were introduced and sent to the respective Standing Committees.
Order and Institutionalization
- Six Points of Order consumed 10 minutes (8% of the sitting time). However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
- A PMLN Member boycotted the sitting as his Adjournment Motions were not taken up by the House.
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 was visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting. However, lack of Quorum was not pointed out by any Member.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization, a member organization of FAFEN
