ISLAMABAD, February 23, 2016: The National Assembly could not take up almost half of private members’ agenda due to Opposition’s boycott of the proceeding on Tuesday during eighth sitting of 29^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 44 minutes.
• The proceeding remained suspended for 25 minutes due to lack of quorum.
• The sitting started at 1105 hours against its scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for 72 minutes while a member of the Panel of Chairpersons chaired the rest of the proceeding. The Speaker was not present.
• The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 40 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 31 minutes.
• Twelve Federal Ministers attended the sitting.
• 72 MNAs (21%) were present at outset and 39 (11%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML-Z, JI, ANP and APML were present.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The lawmakers belonging to MQM introduced the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The bills were referred to the relevant standing committees.
• The House adopted a motion to amend sub-rule (4) of rule 225 of the Rules of Procedure. The amendment was moved by MQM lawmaker.
• The House rejected an amendment to Rule 18 of the Rules of Procedure. It was also moved by a lawmaker belonging to MQM.
• Moved by PML-N legislator, the House adopted a resolution urging the government to take steps to establish a NADRA registration centre at new Sabzimandi Bhadal, District Sialkot. Three lawmakers expressed their views on it for four minutes.
• The House rejected a resolution moved by JUI-F lawmaker regarding starting PIA flights for Khuzdar. Later, the Federal Minister for Climate Change moved an amended version of the resolution which was adopted. The amended resolution urged the government to start PIA flights for all districts of Balochistan.
• The House did not take up a bill, an amendment to Rules of Procedure and three resolutions due to absence of sponsors.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The government replied to two Calling Attention Notices regarding movement of animals on the Motorways and insufficient grant of funds for the under-developed areas.
• The House discussed a Motion under Rule 259 regarding problems arising out of increasing pollution in the country. Six lawmakers including Federal Minister for Climate Change spoke on it for 17 minutes.
• The House did not take up four Motions under Rule 259 appearing on the agenda.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on 22 points of order consuming 38 minutes of the proceeding.
• Entire Opposition boycotted the proceeding due to alleged partisan attitude of the Deputy Speaker during the last sitting. They walked out of the House at 1120 hours and returned at 1245 hours when a member of the Panel of Chairpersons took the chair. However, lawmakers belonging to MQM had returned after two minutes of walkout.
• MQM again left the House at 1244 hours against indifference of the government to the party’s hunger strike.
• The proceeding remained suspended for 25 minutes due to lack of quorum pointed out by PTI legislator at 1127 hours.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on website of National Assembly.

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.