ISLAMABAD, November 8, 2021: The National Assembly passed seven government bills amid low attendance and was adjourned due to lack of quorum on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the second sitting of the 38th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for three hours and two minutes.
• The sitting started at 06:36 pm against the scheduled time of 06:00 pm.
• The deputy speaker chaired the sitting for an hour and 22 minutes while a member of panel of chairpersons presided over the remaining sitting.
• The leaders of the house (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 71 (21 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 83 (24 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leader of PML-N, MQMP and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Minister for law and justice presented the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.
• The House passed seven bills including the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021; the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Commission on the Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• A bill – the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 – remained unaddressed.

• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, a member of the committee presented report on the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed two motions under sub-rule (7) of rule 154 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. These motions were about referring two bills including the Islamabad Capital Territory Charities Registration, Regulation and Facilitation Bill, 2021 and the COVID-19 (Prevention of Hoarding) Bill, 2021 to the joint sitting of the Parliament.
• The House did not take up two calling attention notices regarding closure of National Bank of Pakistan’s Branch in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and non-admission of students in first year by the federal government educational institutes.
• The House did not consider a motion of thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament on September 13, 2021.

Order and Institutionalization

• A PML-N pointed out the quorum at 07:50 pm but it was found complete upon counting.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 08:36 pm during consideration of the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Chair neither directed to ring the bells nor suspended the proceedings and the sitting remained halted for 55 minutes till completion of quorum.
• Another PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 09:36 pm which was found incomplete upon counting and the House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 05:00 pm.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.

 This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted