ISLAMABAD, July 13, 2021: The National Assembly transacted 60 percent of its agenda and referred 11 private members’ bills to relevant committees for deliberation, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet on Tuesday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during fourth sitting of the 35th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for an hour and 22 minutes.
• The sitting started at 04:48 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.
• The deputy speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of speaker.
• The leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 67(20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 56 (16 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of GDA and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• The House witnessed introduction of 11 private members’ bills which were referred to the relevant committees for consideration. These bills were the Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-185); the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 369A); the National Commission for Minorities Bill, 2021; the National Commission for Rights of Non-Muslims Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-156); the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Islamabad Pure Food Authority Bill, 2020; the Dyslexia Special Measures Bill, 2020.
• The Chair deferred 13 other private members’ bills due to absence of movers or relevant ministers. Two bills deferred due to ministerial absence included the Limitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2020 while 11 bills deferred due to absence of movers were the International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-84); the Memon University at Islamabad Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-59); the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 489F and Schedule- II); the Recusant Witnesses (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Children (Pledging of Labour) (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Article-25) and the Aiwan-i-Zarat Bill, 2021 .
• A bill – the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 – was withdrawn by the mover.
• The House did not consider nine reports of various standing committees, three resolutions, a private member’s bill and an amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly, 2007.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources responded to a calling attention notice (CAN)) regarding short supply of water to the Province of Punjab by Indus River System Authority (IRSA).
• The House did not consider five motions under Rule 259, a CAN and a motion to discuss a matter of public importance under Rule 87.

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine lawmakers spoke on points of order for 24 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, July 14, 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