ISLAMABAD, August 2, 2016: The National Assembly took up two thirds Private Members’ agenda while the remaining was left unaddressed on Tuesday during second sitting of 34^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 three hours.
• The sitting started at 1037 hours against the scheduled time 1030 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting except last 41 minutes when a member of the Panel of Chairpersons presided over the proceedings.
• The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• 21 MNAs (6%) were present at outset and 34 (10%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, BNP-A, AMLP, JI, PML-F, PML-Z, ANP and QWP-S attended the sitting.
• Eight minority members were present.

Output

• Moved by the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, the House adopted a resolution to condemn terrorist attack in Madina.
• Moved by MQM lawmakers, the House referred the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to the relevant standing committee.
• Moved by JI lawmakers, the House referred the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to the relevant standing committee.
• Moved by PTI lawmaker, the House referred the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to the relevant standing committee.
• Moved by PPPP lawmaker, the House referred the Un-attended Orphans (Rehabilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2016 as passed by the Senate to the relevant standing committee.
• The lawmakers belonging to JUI-F withdrew the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2016 while PML-N lawmaker withdrew the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 on request of the treasury.
• The House referred the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by JUI-F lawmaker to the Ministry of Law and Justice for its opinion on the amendment.
• The House could not take up the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Prevention of Mal-practices in Academia Bill, 201, the Family Law (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 due to absence of the movers.
• The House deferred the Protection of Minorities Bill, 2016, the Pakistan Minorities Rights Commission Bill, 2016 and the Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2015 on request of the movers.
• The House did not take up three bills, four reports and five resolutions appearing on Orders of the Day due to early adjournment of the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices regarding unfair distribution of gunny-sack and dilapidated condition of Jamshoro—Sehwan Sharif National Highway.
• The House did not take up five motions under Rule 259 appearing on Orders of the Day.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on eight Points of Order consuming 23 minutes of the sitting.
• The MQM lawmakers staged a walkout at 1310 hours against the arrest of party leaders in Karachi. They did not return to the House till the adjournment of the sitting.
• A PTI lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1345 hours. The Chair adjourned the sitting after the counting.

Transparency

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

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.