ISLAMABAD, February 9, 2017: The Punjab Assembly’s 26^th session prorogued on Thursday following a discussion on food and health issues, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during last (14^th) sitting of 26^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and 59 minutes however the proceedings remained suspended for 50 minutes due to lack of quorum.
• The sitting started at 1117 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present. .
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 26 minutes.
• Ten MPAs (3%) were present at outset and six (2%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• Only JI parliamentary leader attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Minister for Food inaugurated the general discussion on food that consumed an hour and 14 minutes. Eight lawmakers– PTI (4), PML-N (3) and JI (one) – participated in the discussion.
• As many as nine out of 14 Starred Questions were responded to during the Question Hour.  The lawmakers also asked 34 supplementary questions.
• The House deferred an Adjournment Motion of PML-N lawmaker about misuse of admission quota for disabled and sports persons in government colleges.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding law and order while another CAN on list of business was withdrawn by its mover.
• The House referred two Zero Hour Notices regarding Basic Health Unit in Jhelum and financial embezzlement in Primary and Secondary Health Department to the Standing Committee on Health.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on three Points of Order consuming four minutes of the proceedings.
• The proceedings remained suspended for 50 minutes due to lack of quorum identified by a PTI lawmaker.
• The entire Opposition protested on floor of the House for four minutes against announcement of development funds of Rs.200 million to each treasury lawmaker.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are regretted