ISLAMABAD, January 23, 2019: The Senate took up its entire agenda on `Orders of the Day’ while the government laid the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the House, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during third sitting of the 286th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 28 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 24 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1730 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of House attended the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and two minutes.
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 14 lawmakers (13%) were present at the outset and 23 (22%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, PkMAP, PTI, JUI-F, BNP-M, PPPP and MQM attended the sitting.
- As many as three out of four minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- Chairman, Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented its reports on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 130); the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
- On behalf of the Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, a member of the committee presented its report on a Point of Public Importance regarding depreciation of Pakistani rupee against dollar.
- Minister of State for Revenue laid a copy of the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the House inviting Senators’ recommendations on the bill. The Chair directed the lawmakers to submit their recommendation within two days.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The government answered ten out of 58 Starred Questions while three questions were disposed of due to absence of the mover and the remaining 45 questions were not taken up. These questions were addressed to Ministries of Water Resources, Energy (Power & Petroleum Divisions), Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and Housing and Works. The lawmakers asked 24 supplementary questions as well.
- The Chair examined five Adjournment Motions under rules 85 to 89 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 of which two were admitted. One motion related to internal accountability system of FIA was admitted by the Chair while other regarding delay in announcement of NFC award was admitted with majority vote.
- Sponsored by a PML-N lawmaker, the Minister for Human Rights responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the rape and murder of a minor girl in Abbottabad.
- Another CAN sponsored by PPPP lawmaker was also responded to by the Minister for Human Rights. The notice highlighted the detention of an official of High Commission of Pakistan in India.
- The Chair announced placement of amendments in the Standing Orders regarding Adjournment Motions.
Order and Institutionalization
- As many as four lawmakers spoke on Points of Order (POs) consuming 28 minutes of the proceedings. These POs were related to the absence of the Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs to lay the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the House.
- The opposition lawmakers walked out of the House at 1955 hours against laying of the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 by the State Minister for Revenue. They did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
- A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1957 hours that led to the headcount followed by the adjournment of the House till January 24, 2019 (Thursday) at 1500 hours.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted