ISLAMABAD, June 14, 2015: The National Assembly witnessed introduction of four government bills while the general discussion on the budget continued on Tuesday during tenth sitting of 33rd session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceeding

• The National Assembly met for six hours and 21 minutes.
• The proceeding remained suspended for 37 minutes due to lack of quorum.
• The sitting started at 1103 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 53 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attended the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 50 minutes.
• 32 MNAs (9%) were present at outset and 12 (3%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, MQM, JI, AMLP, APML, PML-Z and QWP-S were present.
• Eight minority members were present.

Output

• Minister for Law and Justice laid the National Command Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 before the House.
• Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control presented the Illegal Dispossession (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Pakistan National Accreditation Council Bill, 2016 in the House.
• Minister for Commerce presented the Marine Insurance Bill, 2016 in the House.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Science and Technology presented the report of the Committee on the Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty four lawmakers – 11 of PML-N, four of PTI, three each of PPPP and MQM, two of JUI-F and one Independent – took part in general discussion on Budget 2016-17 consuming 308 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on eight Points of Order consuming ten minutes of the proceeding.
• The proceeding remained suspended for 37 minutes due to lack of quorum pointed out by a PTI lawmaker at 1113 hours.

Transparency

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

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