ISLAMABAD, June 19, 2013: Twenty four lawmakers took part in the debate on budget during the sixth sitting of the National Assembly’s second session. The sitting met for eight hours and 13 minutes.

Ten PMLN members, five PPPP, four MQM, two each of PTI and JUIF and one PMLF member expressed views about the budget for five hours and 36 minutes.

The head of PTI took oath and spoke for 39 minutes.

A Calling Attention Notice regarding desecration of the Holy Quran’s verses printed in newspapers was taken up while the other one on the agenda about unmonitored blood banks in Islamabad was deferred.

The House also offered Fateha for the victims of suicide attack in Mardan.

The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 37 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker. Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for eight hours and 13 minutes. There was a break of 68 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1035 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1030 hours, witnessing the delay five minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 37 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for four hours and 12 minutes.
• The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization was not present.
• A total of 72 members were present at the outset while 22 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 216 members were present at one point of sitting.
• A new member – the head of PTI – took oath.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• Five members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty-four legislators – 10 PMLN, five PPPP, four MQM, two each of PTI and JUIF and one member of PMLF – expressed their views about the budget for five hours and 36 minutes.
• A Calling Attention Notice regarding desecration of the Holy Quran’s verses printed in newspapers was taken up.
• The other Calling Attention Notice appearing on the Orders of the Day about unmonitored blood banks in Islamabad was deferred.
• The House offered Fateha for the victims of suicide attack in Mardan.

Order and Institutionalization

• Sixteen points of order consumed an hours of the sitting time.
• MQM lawmakers staged a five-minute token walkout over killing of its workers in Karachi.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

 The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI); a member organization of FAFEN