ISLAMABAD, December 14, 2018: The National Assembly did not take up its scheduled business except a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) on Friday amid walkouts by the government ally BNP and the opposition parties, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

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

Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for an hour and 28 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1115 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 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 16 minutes. He was released from jail custody to attend the House proceedings on production orders issued by the Speaker,
• As many as 41 lawmakers (12%) were present at the outset and 56 (16%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, GDA, PML, BNP and PPPP attended the sitting.
• As many as five out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• The House did not take up the scheduled legislative business, amendment in the Assembly’s rules of procedure, and statutory reports.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Minister for Planning, Development and Reform responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding exclusion of development schemes of Chitral from PSDP 2018-19.
• The House took up seven out of 50 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions.
• The House did not address a CAN, a Motion of Thanks to the President and a Motion under Rule 259.

Order and Institutionalization 

• As many as four lawmakers raised Points of Order consuming seven minutes of the proceedings.
• The government ally BNP and the opposition parties staged a walkout from the proceedings against delay in issuance of production order for a PML-N MNA detained by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). BNP left the proceedings at 1239 hours and the opposition parties at 1242 hours.
• Following the walkout, he Speaker adjourned the House to meet again on December 17, 2018 (Monday) at 1600 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