ISLAMABAD, April 8, 2014: Starting 40 minutes behind schedule, the National Assembly witnessed the introduction of ten private members’ bills during the 11^th and last sitting of its 10^th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The bills include the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2014 (to amend section 103AA), the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2014 ( to amend sections 2, 24, 30, 33, 38 and 39, insertion of section 24-A, omission of sections 34, 35, 36 and 37), the National Air Transportation Safety Board Bill 2014, the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Acid and Burn Crime Bill 2014, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 (Insertion of new section 389-A) the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 (Substitution of section 379), the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 (Substitution of section 489-F).

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding the status of operation for the removal of Kachi Abadis from Islamabad and making alternative arrangements for the accommodation of affected people. However, another CAN regarding insufficient facilities of accommodation for the students of International Islamic University Islamabad was not taken up.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for two hours and five minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 63 minutes while the remaining proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 61 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of APML, ANP, AMLP, MQM, PML-Z, PML-F, BNP, AJIP, NP, JUI-F, NPP and PML did not attend the sitting.
• Eighty-one members (26.6%) were present at the outset while 66 (19.2%) at the adjournment. A maximum of 131 members (38.3%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Eight minority members attended the sitting.
• Twenty-four members applied for leave.

Output

• The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2014, moved by four MQM lawmakers, including a female legislator, was introduced which seeks to amend Representation of the People Act 1976 (Amendment in section 103AA).
  
• Four MQM legislators, including a female, introduced the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2014 seeking amendment in the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance 2000 (Amendments in sections 8, 10, 11 and 12).
• Two PTI legislators, including a female member, introduced the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2014 that seeks to amend the Representation of the People Act 1976 (Amendment in sections 2, 24, 30, 33, 38 and 39, insertion of section 24-A, omission of sections 34, 35, 36 and 37).
• Sponsored by four PPPP lawmakers, including two female legislators, the National Air Transportation Safety Board Bill 2014 was introduced. It seeks the constitution of an independent National Air Transportation Safety Board to ensure compliance of international air safety standards, formulate standards and guidelines for conduct of independent and impartial investigations, carry out investigations and inquiries into air accidents, propose recommendations for safety and protection of air passengers and ensure provision of compensation to victims of air accidents and matter connected therewith or ancillary thereto.
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 was introduced by MQM lawmakers, including a female member, and seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Substitution of section 379, Amendment in Schedule II).
• Four PTI legislators, including a female member, tabled the Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill 2014 to further amend the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001 which was also introduced.
• The House witnessed introduction of the Acid and Burn Crime Bill 2014 by fourteen PML-N lawmakers, including eight female members, to make provisions to specifically criminalize acid and burn related violence by providing fair and speedy trial of such heinous offences and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
• Three female and one male lawmakers of MQM introduced the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 to amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Substitution of section 489F and amendment in Schedule II).
• Fifteen MQM lawmakers, including a female lawmaker, introduced the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Bill 2014 which seeks Amendment in Article 63.
• Four MQM lawmakers, including three females introduced the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2014 to amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (Amendment in Schedule II and insertion of new section 389A).

Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by seven PTI lawmakers, including two female members, the House took up a motion under Rule 244 (B) regarding the constitution of a committee to investigate the allegation of non-payment of tax. Six lawmakers debated the motion for 20 minutes and the Chair directed to constitute a committee to investigate this matter.
• Sponsored by four female PML-N legislators, the House took up a CAN regarding status of operation for removal of Kachi Abadis from Islamabad and alternative arrangements for the affected people’s accommodation.
• Another CAN, sponsored by five female PPPP lawmakers, regarding insufficient facilities of accommodation for the students at the International Islamic University Islamabad was not taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators spoke on 26 matters under Rule 18 for an hour.
• No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. This 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. Errors and omissions excepted