ISLAMABAD, December 17, 2018: The National Assembly on Monday adopted two supplementary resolutions, by lauding the sacrifices of school children in 2014 terrorism attack and condemning Indian atrocities in the Occupied Kashmir, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during sixth sitting of the sixth session:

Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for two hours and 14 minutes. The Speaker suspended the proceedings for 14 minutes to discuss the torture incident of a cameraman at Parliament premises with media representatives.
• The sitting started at 1726 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of House (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and 17 minutes. He was released from jail custody to attend the House proceedings on production orders issued by the Speaker,
• As many as 69 lawmakers (20%) were present at the outset and 56 (16%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, GDA, PML, AMLP, ANP and PPPP attended the sitting.
• As many as five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Tabled by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House adopted two supplementary resolutions to condemn terrorism attack on Army Public School Peshawar in 2014 and Indian atrocities in the Occupied Kashmir.
• Moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House referred the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to the relevant committee.
• The House adopted amendments in n the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 for playing national anthem in the House after recitation of Naat.
• Minister of State for Revenue tabled three statutory reports while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs laid an authenticated copy of the Address of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs moved a Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to both Houses assembled together on September 17, 2018.
• The Chair disposed of a motion under Rule 259 about the existing economic conditions of Pakistan. Minister of State for Revenue suggested to constitute a special committee to have further debate on it.
• Minister for Petroleum Division responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding non-commencement of work on gas supply project in Malakand Agency despite approval.
• Another CAN was not taken up by the House due to absence of its relevant movers. It was regarding non-commencement of construction work on Kohat-Gambela Indus Highway.
• The House did not observe the question hour.

Order and Institutionalization 

• As many as twelve lawmakers raised as many Points of Order consuming an hour and 11 minutes of the proceedings.
• The entire opposition staged a walkout from the proceedings against delay in issuance of production order for a PML-N MNA detained by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The lawmakers left the House at 1903 hour and did not return to the House till adjournment of sitting.
• A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1906 hours but it was found complete upon counting.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on December 20, 2018 (Thursday) at 1100 hours.

 Transparency

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

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 regretted