Only 30.98% of MNAs marked their attendance during 45th session of the National Assembly

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Highlights

  1. National Assembly met for only 22 hours and 20 minutes in 11 Sittings
  2. Average time per sitting recorded at 2 hours and 2 minutes
  3. Longest sitting of 45th session held for 4 hours and 19 minutes; Shortest sitting lasted for only 16 minutes
  4. Each sitting started with an average delay of 36 minutes
  5. Seventeen (17) bills passed by the National Assembly in 45th Session
  6. 31.53 % Agenda items were left over during the session

Working Hours

The 45th session of the National Assembly began on October 7 and was prorogued on October 24. Eleven (11) sittings were convened during the session spanning 18 days. The schedule of the sittings during the session is given in Appendix A.

This 45th Session of the National Assembly met for 22 hours and 20 minutes with an average time of 2 hours and 2 minutes per sitting. The longest sitting of the session was held on Thursday, October 13 when the House was adjourned after meeting 4 hours and 19 minutes. The shortest sitting was held on Friday, October 14 when 60% agenda items were left over and the House was adjourned due to lack of quorum after meeting for only 16 minutes. Only 82 (24.77%) MNAs were recorded as present on this day.

The average delay in starting a sitting was 36 minutes during the session.

Agenda Items Left Over

On average 31.53% agenda items were left over during the 45th session and the National Assembly could dispose only 68.47% of its agenda items in 11 sittings. Maximum agenda items left over were 90.91% on October 24 due to discussion by the members on killing of a journalist Mr. Arshad Sharif in Kenya. Minimum agenda items left over were 8% on October 7. The National Assembly disposed of the whole agenda on October 20. Details of the Agenda Items Left over are given in Appendix B.

Quorum

Lack of quorum was pointed out only in two (2) or 18.18% out of 11 sittings during the session. The same two sittings were adjourned due to lack of quorum. On average, 103 (30.98%) MNAs were recorded as present in the session. The details of the quorum pointed out are given in Appendix C.

Attendance

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, MNA, Prime Minister of Pakistan could not attend a single sitting throughout the session while Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad, MNA attended 3 (27.27%) sittings held on October 12, October 18 and October 19. On average, 103 or 30.98% MNAs marked their attendance during the 45th session. The reason behind this low attendance is absence of PTI MNAs while ECP also de-notified 11 MNAs of PTI on July 29, 2022.

Top 5 Vocal Senators

Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, MNA (NA-1 Chitral-I, KP, MMAP) was the most vocal MNA during the 45th session with a recorded talk time of 1 hour and 7 minutes. Mr. Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, MNA, (NA-199 Shikarpur-II, Sindh, GDA) spoke for 31 minutes during the session, followed by Mr. Qadir Khan Mandokhail, MNA (NA-249 Karachi West-II, Sindh, PPPP) who spoke for 27 minutes during the session. Mr. Muhammad Jamal ud Din, MNA (NA-89, South Waziristan Agency-I Tribal Area-X, KP, MMAP) spoke for 25 minutes and Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, MNA (NA-100 Chiniot-II, Punjab, PML-N) spoke for 24 minutes.

Legislation

During 45th session, the National Assembly passed 17 bills. Out of these, 7 government bills and 3 private members’ bills were introduced in the National Assembly while 7 Private Members’ bills were transmitted from the Senate.

Government bills passed by the National Assembly during 45th session
 
Private Members’ bills passed by the National Assembly during 45th session

Private Members’ bills passed by the National Assembly during 45th session that were transmitted by the Senate

Five (5) Government bills and six (6) Private Members’ bills were introduced during the session and all of them were referred to the concerned committees.

Only one (1) ordinance The Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 (Ord. No.VI) was laid during the session while no ordinance was extended during the session.

Time consumed on discussion of Policy Issues during 45th session

The quality of the time used during the National Assembly session can be gauged by analyzing the time consumed on discussing key issues of democratic governance. During 45th session, total time consumed for discussion on policy issues spanned over only 1 hour and 32 minutes while the Assembly consumed 14 hours and 27 minutes on discussion of non-policy issues. The maximum time consumed in discussing policy issues was on a bill ‘the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022’ for 14 minutes while the House spent 4 hours and 11 minutes and 1 hour and 23 minutes on discussing non-policy issues of ‘discussion on the situation arising out of the floods in the country in 2022’ and ‘Law and order situation in Balochistan’ respectively.

It must be noted that PILDAT has classified that a policy issue is such that involves any amendment in a bill or a recommendation on devising a policy. Any discussion on an issue that does not go beyond mere criticism or highlighting a concern does not fall into policy issue and is treated as discussion or time spent on non-policy issues.  

Time consumed on Non-Policy discussion during 45th session

References

  1. “Irregularity in bill’s passage gives rise to ‘constitutional first’” Dawn, January 14, 2023, Accessed February 1, 2023, https://www.dawn.com/news/1731556