FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR

Transcription

1 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR 31ST SESSION April 7 to April 15, 2016 Free and Fair Election Network

2 SESSION AT A GLANCE The 31st session of the National Assembly was marked by the passage of four government bills and introduction of eight bills, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The session, comprising six sittings, started on April 7 and prorogued on April 15, On average, each sitting started19 minutes behind the schedule and lasted three hours and 43 minutes. On average, 52 (15%) lawmakers were present at the start and 36 (11%) at the end of each sitting while a maximum of 224 (65%) members attended the sitting. The Prime Minister did not attend any sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present in four out of six sittings. The Speaker, who remained present in five sittings, presided over 40% of the session. The Deputy Speaker was present in five sittings and chaired 51% of the proceeding. On average, eight minority members attended the session while the House took three breaks consuming 9% (117 minutes) of the session time. The Parliamentary leaders of the QWP, APML, JI attended six sittings each followed by PNL-Z (5), AMLP, PPPP, PkMAP (4 each), ANP, AJIP, JUI-F, BNP (3 each), NPP, PML-F (2 each) and one each by PTI, PML and NP. However, none of the sittings was attended by Parliamentary Leader of MQM. Four government bills the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2015; the Foreign Exchange Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2014; the Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2016 were passed during the session. In addition, eight bills including five private were introduced and sent to the relevant standing committees while a private bill the Law Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was not taken up by the House. Five private bills introduced in the House included the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Article 51), the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, In addition, three government bills were introduced in the House which included the Companies (Appointment of Legal Advisors) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

3 The House did not take up any of the five resolutions which appeared on the agenda during the third sitting. These resolutions were about fixation of minimum pension at Rs. 50,000; increase the basic salaries of the Federal Government employees in proportion to pricehike; steps to improve the performance of Pakistan Cricket Board; waiving off general sales tax on urea, pesticides as well as seeds and simplifying the procedure of payment of pension. Six Calling Attention Notices (CANs) addressed to various ministries were taken up during the session. These CANs were on the issue of poor performance of Pakistan Cricket Team during T- 20 World Cup 2016; application of custom Act to Malakand Division and District Kohistan; nonprovision of financial assistance and relief package in rain affected areas of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; non-increase in salaries of employees of Pakistan Steel Mills; increase in poverty and inadequate measures to control disease of allergy in Islamabad. Two CANs were not taken up by the House pertaining to gas load shedding for domestic consumers in Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and only one out of twenty four power generation projects for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The House took up only one out of six motions under Rule 259 to debate the matters arising out of Panama Papers. Twenty five lawmakers PML- N (10), PTI (5), PPPP & JI (3 each), JUI-F (2), MQM and AMLP (one each) discussed this motion consuming 25 percent (337 minutes) of the session time. On the other hand, motions on the matters including non-installation of new car manufacturing units in the country; performance of Pakistan Cricket Board; dilapidated condition of Parliament Lodges; free of cost organic farming practices and welfare of the Pakistan Railways employees were left unaddressed. A motion under Rule 244 (B) was not taken up by the House which was about constituting a Special Committee to investigate into the loans of billions of rupees written off by the banks presently during last three financial years. In addition, the House witnessed the presentation of three Standing Committees' Periodic Reports while annual reports of the Council of Common Interest for the year , , second quarterly report of Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan for the year 2015 and annual report of Federal Public Service Commission for the year 2014 were also presented. Amendment in sub-rule (1) of rule 200 of the Rules of Procedure for substituting the words ascertainment of the Leader of the House with the words election of the Prime Minister was considered by the House.

4 The House took up 27 out of 114 (24%) starred questions appearing on the agenda, while the lawmakers raised 51 supplementary questions during the session. In addition, the members raised a total of 99 Points of Order that consumed 268 minutes (20%) of the session time. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. MQM lawmakers walked out of the House for 19 minutes in 5th sitting against arrest of its party leaders and workers. JUI-F lawmaker pointed out quorum during 2nd sitting that was found incomplete upon counting and led to premature adjournment of the sitting. The session witnessed three walkouts that consumed 27 minutes of the proceeding time. Entire Opposition except MQM staged token walkout for four minute in 3rd sitting against the federal government for withdrawing tax free zone facilities from Division Malakand and District Kohistan. A lawmaker belonging to PML-N also staged walkout on the same issue for four minutes against the provincial government of

5 1 SESSION TIME, ATTENDANCE, AGENDA AND PARTICIPATION This section gives a statistical overview of the session covering the number of sittings, duration of sitting and attendance brought before the House and participation of members in the proceedings. 19 MINUTES 22h17m AVERAGE DELAY SESSION DURATION 6 TOTAL SITTINGS

6 SITTING DATE, DURATION AND ATTENDANCE The session, comprising six sittings, started on April 7 and prorogued on April 15, On average, each sitting started19 minutes behind the schedule and lasted three hours and 43 minutes. On average, 52 (15%) lawmakers were present at the start and 36 (11%) at the end of each sitting while a maximum of 224 (65%) members attended the sitting Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 3:34 Maximum Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 0:43 at Start 2 08 Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 5:02 Maximum Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 0:10 at Start Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 8 3:00 Maximum 241 Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 39 0:05 at Start Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 7 5:02 Maximum 229 Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 20 0:36 at Start Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 8 3:34 Maximum 226 Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 22 0:08 at Start Apr, 2016 Total Time (hh:mm) Minority 8 2:05 Maximum 205 Late Start (hh:mm) at Adjournment 39 0:10 at Start 42

7 PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ATTENDANCE Iftikhar Uddin I 6 APML attended Aftab Ahmed Sherpao QWP-S 6 I attended Sahibzada Tariqullah JI 6 I attended Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq PML-Z 5 I attended Mahmood Khan Achakzai PkMAP 4 I attended Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed AMLP 4 I attended Ghulam Ahmed Bilour ANP 3 I attended Sayed Essa Nori BNP 3 I attended Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman JUI-F 3 I attended Engr. Usman Khan Tarakai AJIP 3 I attended Dr. Ghazi Gulab Jamal IND 2 I attended Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi NPP 2 I attended Saddar-ud-Din Rashidi PML-F 2 I attended Sardar Kamal Bangulzai NP 1 I attended Imran Khan I 1 PTI attended Ch. Pervez Ellahi PML 1 I attended Dr. M. Farooq Sattar MQM 0 I attended

8 KEY MEMBERS ATTENDANCE The Prime Minister did not attend any sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present in four out of six sittings. The Speaker, who remained present in five sittings, presided over 40% of the session. The Deputy Speaker was present in five sittings and chaired 51% of the proceeding. On average, eight minority members attended the session. Speaker Deputy Speaker Prime Minister Leader of the Opposition 5 I Presided for 40% of total session s time Attended Sittings 5 I Presided for 51% of total session s time Attended Sittings 0 I Spent 0% Attended Sittings time in the House Attended I Sittings Spent 4 31% time in the House The House took three breaks consuming 9% (117 minutes) of the session time.

9 2 REPRESENTATION, RESPONSIVENESS AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT This section gives statistical as well as qualitative overview of legislator's interventions in the House Calling Attention Notices (CANs), Questions or any other motions for the oversight of government and to articulate issues of public interest and importance. 6 MOTIONS UNDER RULE QUESTIONS 8 CANs

10 CALLING ATTENTION NOTICES A lawmaker may call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance through a notice to be submitted one day before a sitting of the National Assembly. In response, the Minister may make a brief statement on the issue. CALLING ATTENTION NOTICES BY MINISTRY Climate Change Division Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization Industries & Production Interior and Narcotics Control Inter-Provincial Coordination Petroleum and Natural Resources Planning, Development and Reform Water & Power TAKEN UP CANs SUBJECTS Poor performance of Pakistan Cricket Team during the T-20 World Cup, 2016 Applicability of the Customs Act, 1969 to Malakand Division and District Kohistan, thus withdrawing the tax free zone facilities there from Killing of hundreds of citizens, collapse of dozens of houses, losses of standing crops due to heavy rainfall, flash floods and land sliding in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and not-providing any financial assistance and relief package to the effectees by the Federal Government Non-increase in the salaries of the employees of Pakistan Steel Mills for the last seven years and misappropriation from their General Provident and Gratuity Funds Increase in poverty and living standards of sixty million people below the poverty line in the country Inadequate preventive measures to control the disease of allergy in Islamabad Not Taken Up Only one out of twenty four power generation projects for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gas load shedding for domestic consumers in Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad

11 QUESTIONS 181 by 46 MNAs 114 * Starred Questions 67 Unstarred Questions *The members also asked 51 supplementary questions. 27 Taken Up 87 Not Taken Up QUESTIONS BY PARTY PPPP PTI PML-N MQM JI JUI-F IND PkMAP

12 QUESTIONS ASKED FROM MINISTRIES Interior & Narcotics Control Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics & Privatization Commerce Capital Administration & Development Division Federal Education and Professional Training Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretariat Climate Change Division Inter-Provincial Coordination Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development Aviation Division Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Railways Prime Minister s Office States and Frontier Regions Planning, Development and Reform Textile Industry Establishment Division Information Technology and Telecommunication 1

13 MOTION UNDER RULE 259 The National Assembly may discuss any policy, situation, statement or any other matter on a Motion under Rule 259 by any member. Motions on Agenda - 6 Debated - One SUBJECTS OF MOTIONS Debated This House may discuss the matter arising out of the Panama Papers Not Debated This House may discuss the effects of non-installation of new car manufacturing units in the country This House may discuss the performance of Pakistan Cricket Board This House may discuss the dilapidated condition of Parliament Lodges and delay in construction of new blocks This House may discuss the steps being taken by the Government to introduce free of cost organic farming practices and to provide agricultural research facilities to local farmers in the country This House may discuss the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of the Pakistan Railways employees MOTION UNDER RULE 244 (B) Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi MQM That a Special Committee, consisting of not more than eight members, four each from Treasury and Opposition, may be constituted by the Honourable Speaker, to investigate into the loans of billions of rupees written off by the banks presently and during the last three financial years and report to the House within thirty days Not Taken Up

14 3 PARLIAMENTARY OUTPUT This section provides statistical as well as qualitative information about the legislative bills, resolutions, reports and documents presented or discussed in the House. 6 REPORTS ON AGENDA 5 RESOLUTIONS 13 BILLS ON AGENDA

15 LEGISLATION Status of Government Bills Status of Private Bills INTRODUCED PASSED NOT TAKEN UP/ REJECTED 7 Total NAME OF BILLS Government Bills Passed The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2015 The Foreign Exchange Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2014 The Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2016 Government Bills Introduced Private Bills Introduced The National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Article 51) The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Companies (Appointment of Legal Advisors) The Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2016 Private Bill Not Taken Up The Law Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015

16 RESOLUTIONS Through resolutions, a legislature expresses an opinion, makes recommendations, or conveys a message on a specific and important issue. The House can also commend, condemn, urge or request action by the government. Resolutions can be moved by ministers or members in their private capacity. RESOLUTION NOT TAKEN UP This House is of the opinion that the Government should take steps to fix minimum pension at fifty thousand Rupees This House is of the opinion that the Government should take steps to immediately increase the basic salaries of the Federal Government employees in proportion to price-hike This House is of the opinion that the Government should take steps to improve the performance of Pakistan Cricket Board This House is of the opinion that the Government should take steps to waive off general sales tax on urea, pesticides and seeds This House is of the opinion that the Government should take steps to simplify the procedure of payment of pension PAPERS/REPORTS Paper Laid The Annual Report of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for the year and as required by clause (4) of Article 153 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan The Second Quarterly Report for the year, of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of Pakistan s Economy as required by section 9A (f) of the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956 Report Presented The Annual Report of the Federal Public Service Commission for the year 2014 as required by sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 The Periodical Report of the Standing Committee on Inter- Provincial Coordination for the period November, December, 2015 as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 The Periodical Report of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication for the period July - December, 2015 as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 The Periodical Report of the Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control for the period January-June, 2015 as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007

17 4 ORDER AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION This section provides information about Points of Order, Quorum and any instances of walkout, protest or boycott during the proceeding. 1 QUORUM 3 WALKOUT 99 POINTS OF ORDER

18 POINTS OF ORDER 1st Sitting 2nd Sitting 3rd Sitting 4th Sitting 5th Sitting 6th Sitting minutes POs consumed 0 0 POs minutes consumed minutes POs consumed 3 8 POs minutes consumed minutes POs consumed minutes POs consumed QUORUM JUI-F lawmaker pointed out quorum during 2nd sitting that was found incomplete upon counting and led to premature adjournment of the sitting. Fazal-Ur-Rehman JUI-F Chair's Action: Adjourned the Sitting PROTEST / WALKOUT / BOYCOTT Sitting No. Party(ies) Reasons 3 Entire Oppostion Except MQM 3 PML-N 5 MQM Against the federal government for withdrawing tax free zone facilities from Division Malakand and District Kohistan Against the federal government for withdrawing tax free zone facilities from provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Against arrest of its party leaders and workers Time (Minutes) 4 4 Type Token Walkout Token Walkout 19 Walkout

19 About FAFEN FAFEN is one of the most credible networks of civil society organizations working for strengthening citizens' voice and accountability in Pakistan since FAFEN has harnessed information technology for real-time monitoring, facilitation and technical backstopping of partners for effective and result-based program delivery. FAFEN is the only civil society group to have been invited by the Judicial Commission to present the evidence of illegalities and irregularities documented through the course of General Elections 2013 Observation. The systemic and procedural issues identified by FAFEN have been acknowledged by the commission in its detailed findings. FAFEN's recommendations for electoral reforms have contributed to the work of Parliamentary Committee for Electoral Reforms. FAFEN's advocacy for parliamentary transparency, accountability and reforms has shaped public discourse on parliamentary reforms. Improved citizens' access to parliamentary information including daily public release of parliamentarians' attendance records can be directly attributed to FAFEN's work. FAFEN deployed 18,000 and 40,000 non-partisan and trained observers for the systematic observation of general election 2008 and 2013, respectively, largest citizens' observation ever undertaken in Pakistan. FAFEN's evidence and recommendations for reforms have improved the quality of public and political discourse on elections, its issues and need for reforms. Leading political parties and media houses extensively use FAFEN's election findings and analysis to build a case for reforms. With around 16,500 followers on Twitter and around 73,000 on Facebook, FAFEN is considered one of the most reliable sources of electoral and parliamentary information in the country. I Free and Fair Election Network