ISLAMABAD, October 5, 2015: Senate adopted five resolution during the first sitting of its 120th session which started right on the scheduled time, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.
The House witnessed low attendance with only 16 (15%) legislators present at the start and 22 (21%) at the time of sitting’s adjournment. The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 13 minutes.
The House adopted two separate resolutions to express grief and sorrow over sad demise of former senators Justice (retd.) Javed Iqbal and Gulzar Ahmed Khan. Two supplementary resolutions supporting Prime Minister’s call for resolving Kashmir issue in UNGA and inclusion of Palestine’s flag outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York were also adopted.
Another resolution calling for shifting WAPDA House from Lahore to Islamabad was also adopted by the House despite opposition from treasury lawmakers.
Tabled by PPPP lawmaker under Rule 126 (7), the House passed three motions to review the delay in consideration of three bills during joint sitting which have been pending in National Assembly after being passed from the Senate. These bills included the Privatization Commission (Second Amendment) Bill 2015, the Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015.
State Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony presented report regarding Mina incident and nine lawmakers – three from PTI, two each from PPPP & PML-N, and one each from JUI-F and PkMAP – took part in the debate for 29 minutes. State Minister spoke on it for 23 minutes and Chairman Senate for three minutes.
A resolution to establish constitutional court following Charter of Democracy, having equal number of judges from all provinces was deferred after discussion. Seven lawmakers – three from PPPP and one each from PML-N, PML-F, PTI and BNP-M – discussed it for 13 minutes.
Three resolutions on the agenda for steps to make technical education compulsory in educational institutions of Islamabad, enhancing allocation for health sector and measures for welfare of special persons in Islamabad were dropped due to movers’ absence.
One of the resolutions to shift Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Office from Lahore to Islamabad or establishing PCB offices in other provinces was referred to a Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, seeking recommendations on the issue. Thirteen lawmakers including five from PML-N followed by two each from PkMAP, PPPP, PTI and one each from ANP and BNP-M debated this resolution for 42 minutes while Chair Senate spoke on it for three minutes.
The House concluded debate on commenced motion under Rule 218 about implementation of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package and six lawmakers – two each from PML-N and PkMAP, and one each from NP and BNP-M – spoke on it for 23 minutes.
Another commenced motion discussed by the House was regarding government decision to increase domestic, commercial and industrial gas tariff along with GIDC. One lawmaker each from PTI, PPPP and PML-N spoke on it.
Three motions under Rule 218 were dropped due to absence of movers which were about performance of Ministry of Industries and Production, ignoring Council of Common Interest while deciding policy matters related to oil and gas and alleged violations during recent appointment process in Statistics Division.
One of the motion under Rule 218 regarding political situation was moved and admitted to be discussed in any of the next sitting. The debate on another motion to make Indus Highway double-lane was concluded as State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to it.
Some key observations are as follows:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for four hours and 35 minutes
- The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours
- Chairman presided over the entire sitting
- The Deputy Chairman was not present
- The House had a prayer break for 17 minutes.
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
- The Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 13 minutes.
- Prime Minister did not attend the sitting
- Sixteen (15%) senators were present at the start and 22 (21%) at the time of adjournment
- Parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PML-F, BNP-M, PkMAP, PTI, NP and PML were present
- Three minority members were present
- Nine members applied for leave
Output
- The House adopted two separate resolutions to express grief and sorrow over sad demise of former senators Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and Gulzar Ahmed Khan.
- Two supplementary resolutions supporting Prime Minister’s call for resolving Kashmir issue in UNGA and inclusion of Palestine’s flag outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York were also adopted.
- Another resolution calling for shifting WAPDA House from Lahore to Islamabad was also adopted by the House despite opposition from treasury lawmakers.
- State Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony presented report regarding Mina incident
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House concluded debate on commenced motion under Rule 218 about implementation of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package.
- Another commenced motion discussed by the House was regarding government decision to increase domestic, commercial and industrial gas tariff along with GIDC.
- One of the motions under Rule 218 regarding political situation was moved and admitted for discussion in any of the next sitting.
- The debate on another motion to make Indus Highway double-lane was concluded as State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to it.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised five POs which took up seven minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- Lawmakers from ANP, PPPP and PkMAP walked out of the House for 21 minutes against statement of PML-N lawmaker about Kalabagh dam.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public
To download the factsheet, click here
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.