ISLAMABAD, February 10, 2020: The Senate adopted three resolutions and passed one private member’s bill on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 20th sitting of the 295th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for four hours and 20 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 18 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at its scheduled time of 1600 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
- The Deputy Chairman was not present.
- The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 10 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 59 minutes.
- Thirteen lawmakers (12%) were present at the outset and 17 (16%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PTI, PML-N, BNP-M, PkMAP, and PkMAP attended the sitting.
- Two out of four minority lawmakers were present.
Output.
- Moved by a PTI lawmaker, the House passed the Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018 along with amendments.
- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs moved the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which was passed by the House. Earlier, Chairman Standing Committee on Interior presented report on it.
- The House witnessed introduction of two private members’ bills including the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2020 and the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Both bills were referred to the relevant committees for further deliberation.
- The House deferred the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Insertion of new Article 25B) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Article 198).
- Four resolutions appearing on the agenda were deferred on the request of their movers which demanded to introduce a Group Insurance Scheme for government employees, establish regular crossing point at Pak-Afghan border in Lower Dir, fix Rs. 30,000 as the minimum wage for labourers and fulfill the pledges made to the people of erstwhile FATA at the time of its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- The House adopted two resolutions demanding to formulate a support structure for kidnapped and missing individuals and move a resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) asking for fixing the date of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Tabled by an Independent lawmaker, the House adopted a supplementary resolution to express solidarity with China in fight against coronavirus.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Chair deferred three motions under Rule 218 which were about construction of Sindh Barrage on River Indus, Reko Diq issue and status of work on the project of Diamir Bhasha Dam.
- Thirteen lawmakers debated a motion on WHO report about rise of Polio cases in Pakistan for 59 minutes.
- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs concluded debate on a motion under Rule 218 regarding issue of non-payment or curtailed payment of Pension and salaries. Earlier, three lawmakers including the Leader of the Opposition discussed it for 31 minutes.
- The House discussed another motion about non- functioning of National Commission for Human Rights for the last six months with particular reference to increasing sexual offences against children. Six lawmakers spoke on it for 24 minutes.
- Eight lawmakers discussed motion under Rule 218 regarding implementation status of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package for 50 minutes. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs spoke on it for six minutes.
- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded a motion about losses in the country due to recent heavy rains, snowfalls and avalanches and post relief activities initiated by the Government in the affected areas. Earlier, the sponsor of the motion spoke on it for five minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Seven lawmakers including Minister for Human Rights spoke on points of order for nine minutes.
- The opposition staged a token walkout from the proceedings terming the conversion of former Senator’s house into shelter home as ‘illegal’ and stance of Pakistani government on future of Indus Water Treaty ‘unclear’.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on February 11, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1530 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 proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted