ISLAMABAD, February 17, 2016: The Punjab Assembly took up its entire agenda on Wednesday during 14^th sitting of its 19^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and six minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 46 minutes, the Deputy Speaker for an hour and 35 minutes and a member of Panel of Chairpersons for 42 minutes.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and 28 minutes.
• 21 MPAs (5%) were present at outset and 86 (23%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of JI attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The House approved 23 amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997. Six lawmakers spoke on these amendments consuming 43 minutes of the proceeding.
• The Provincial Law Minister introduced the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Punjab Local Government (Third Amendment) Bill 2016. The bills were referred to the relevant standing committees.
• The House also passed the Canal and Drainage (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the University of Okara Bill 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The government orally responded to 10 out of 13 starred questions appearing on agenda while three questions were disposed of due to absence of relevant lawmakers. The lawmakers also asked 32 supplementary questions.
• The government replied to five adjournment motions while four were deferred. Seven of these motions were moved by PML lawmakers and two by PTI legislators.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 11 points of order consuming 14 minutes of the proceeding.
• A lawmaker belonging to PTI pointed out lacking quorum at 1454 hours. The Speaker ordered to ring the bells for five minutes after which the quorum was found complete on counting.

Transparency

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

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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are regretted.