NA completes mandatory 650 sittings

Published March 12, 2013

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly completed its mandatory 650 sittings on Tuesday setting a record in the country's parliamentary history by assembling on the required number of days during its five-year tenure.

The lower house of parliament made its 130th sitting, just four days before the completion of its five-year tenure on March 16.

The National Assembly held 50 sessions during last five years. The first sitting was held on March 17, 2008 when the members took oath and signed roll of members. Thirteen joint sittings were also made during the course.

In its 650 sittings, the lower house passed 126 bills including landmark legislation such as the 18th, 19th, 20th constitutional amendments.

Other laws included those relating to women's and children's rights, reinstatement of sacked employees, election laws and passing the annual budget.

During this course, 81 bills were made into acts of parliament after being approved by both the houses. The last act was approved on 20 February.

The National Assembly also held two in-camera sessions in which the top military brass briefed parliamentarians on the Abbottabad operation and national security issues.

It was also for the first time that the President of Pakistan addressed the joint sitting of Parliament five times.

During its five-year term, the National Assembly lost eight members, including Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who was murdered in a firing incident in Islamabad.

Other members who had died while being members of the House included Merhun Nisa Afridi, Taj Muhammad Jamali, Fauzia Wahab, Azim Daultana, Jam Yousuf, Niaz Muhammad Khan and Abdul Mateen Khan.

Moreover, the incumbent National Assembly was addressed twice by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and once by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

The sitting National Assembly also witnessed two prime ministers including Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and incumbent Raja Pervez Ashraf.