ISLAMABAD, February 13, 2018: The Punjab Assembly rejected a resolution against the recent increase in the petroleum prices amidst the opposition’s protest on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 12^th sitting of the 34^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for 47 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1015 hours against the scheduled time 1000 hours.
• The Deputy speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for 45 minutes.
• As many as 15 MPAs (4%) were present at outset and 10 (3%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of JI was present.
• One minority lawmaker attended the sitting.

Output

• The House rejected a resolution moved by the Leader of the Opposition seeking withdrawal of the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products.
• The Chair disposed of four private members’ resolutions due to absence of the concerned lawmakers.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as three out of nine Starred Questions were taken up for answers during the proceedings while six Starred Questions were disposed of due to absence of the movers. The lawmakers also asked eight supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised nine Points of Order consuming eight minutes of the proceedings.
• The Opposition lawmakers staged a protest and a walkout against the government’s reply to the resolution on petroleum price hike.
• The Chair adjourned the House to meet again on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 0900 hours.

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