ISLAMABAD, May 06, 2016: The Punjab Assembly witnessed protest on the issue of Panama Leaks on Friday during first sitting of 21st session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 11 minutes while also taking prayer break for 21 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1733 hours against the scheduled time 1500 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 61 minutes.
- 40 MPAs (11%) were present at outset and 20 (5%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and JI attended the sitting.
- Three minority members were present.
Output
- The House did not take up the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Ordinance 2016.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The government orally responded to 14 out of 36 starred questions appearing on the agenda while a question was deferred and another was disposed of due to absence of relevant lawmaker. In addition, the lawmakers also asked 27 supplementary questions.
- The House deferred three privilege motions moved by female two lawmakers belonging to PTI and PML-N.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on five points of order consuming six minutes of the proceeding.
- Entire Opposition protested against the decision of the Chair to disallow an out-of-turn Adjournment Motion of the Leader of the Opposition regarding Panama Leaks. They staged walked out at 1938 hours after protesting on floor of the House for six minutes.
- A PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1938 hours following which the Chair ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. However, the sitting had to be adjourned when the quorum was found incomplete on recounting after the bells.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
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.
