ISLAMABAD, November 9, 2021: The National Assembly transacted 25 percent agenda on Tuesday and referred 12 private members’ bills to relevant committees for consideration, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

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

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for an hour and 36 minutes.
• The sitting started at 05:55 pm against the scheduled time of 05:00 pm.
• The deputy speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The leader of the house (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The leader of the opposition was present for 11 minutes.
• As many as 81 (24 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 219 (64 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PML-N, MMAP, PML, AMLP, JWP and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Eight minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• The House witnessed introduction of 12 private members’ bills which were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration. These bills were the International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Amendment in Article- 63-A); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Articles- 175-A, 177 and 182); the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Amendment in Article- 168);  the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article- 62); the Pakistan Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Microfinance Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the ICT Rights of Persons with Disability (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Islamabad Women University Bill, 2021.
• The House rejected a motion for consideration of the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• Sponsored by PPPP lawmakers, the House passed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Twenty-three private members’ bills, 21 reports of the standing committees, five resolutions and an amendment in the rules of procedure and conduct of business in National Assembly remained unaddressed.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed three motions for consideration of as many bills in the joint sitting of the Parliament. These bills included the Al-Karam International Institute Bill, 2020; the Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2021 and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• Five motions under rule 259 remained unaddressed while the House did not take up two calling attention notices.

Order and Institutionalization

• Eight lawmakers spoke on points of order for 16 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 11:00 am.

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