ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2016: The National Assembly continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers during its sitting on Thursday as Points of Order (POs) consumed around three-fifths of sitting’s time, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The House witnessed low attendance as 35 lawmakers (10%) were present at outset and 22 (7%) at adjournment of the sitting

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for three hours and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1038 hours against the scheduled time 1030 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for 108 minutes while rest of the proceeding was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 86 minutes.
• Five Cabinet Members attended the sitting.
• 35 MNAs (10%) were present at outset and 22 (7%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, ANP, APML, PML-Z, PML-F and QWP-S attended the sitting.
• Nine minority members were present.

Output

• The House did not consider the Patents (Amendment) Bill,2016 and Periodical Report of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication from July -December, 2015.
• PkMAP lawmaker presented the Periodical Report of Standing Committee on lnter-Provincial Coordination from November, 2013-December, 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The government orally replied to eight out of 42 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, the lawmakers also asked 17 supplementary questions.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) about increase in poverty and living standards of sixty million people below the poverty line in the country. Minister for SAFRON responded to it.
• Another CAN about only one out of twenty four power generation projects for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not considered by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Thirty-three Points of Order consumed 125 minutes (59%) of the sitting.
• MQM lawmakers walked out of the House for 19 minutes against arrest of its party leaders and workers.

Transparency

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

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