National Assembly takes up most of agenda, passes four private members' bills - Press Release issued by Free and Fair Election Network.

Islamabad -- May 18, 2021 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)

Quote

The National Assembly on Tuesday passed took up most of its agenda and passed four private members' bills, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of 33rd session:

Members' Participation

The National Assembly met for three hours and 50 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 43 minutes due to prayer breaks.

The sitting started at 04:26 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.

The speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 20 minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by a member of panel of chairpersons.

The deputy speaker was not present.

The leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.

As many as 99 (29 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 24 (seven percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of AMLP, PML, GDA and PPPP attended the sitting.

Six out of ten minority lawmakers were present.

Output

The House passed four private members' bills which were the Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2019; the Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2020; the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment Bill, 2020.

The House referred nine private members' bills to committees which were the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Amendment in Article- 37); the Elections (Amendment) Bill,2021; the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the West Pakistan Pure Food (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill,2021 (Amendment in Article- 140A); the Benazir Income Support Program (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Maintenance and Welfare of Old Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2020; the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill,2021 and the Injured Persons Compulsory Treatment Bill, 2021;

Thirteen bills were deferred on the request of movers which included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 ( Amendment in Articles- 11 and 25A); the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill,2021; the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 489F and Schedule- II); the Recusant Witnesses (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the International...