ISLAMABAD, August 29, 2013: The Senate continued to debate the presidential address to the parliament on Thursday during the ninth sitting of the 97th session.
Nine Senators – five PPPP, two MQM and one each from ANP and BNPA – expressed their views on the address.
The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs laid the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 which was sent to the relevant committee.
Two reports of the Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2010 were presented before the House. The earlier bill seeks amendment in articles 9 and 10 while the latter insertion of a new Article 19B in the constitution.
The Chairman presided over the entire sitting in the presence of both the Leader of the House and the Opposition. Parliamentary leaders of PMLN, PPPP, ANP and JUIF also attended the sitting.
The entire opposition staged a five-minute walkout over the absence of Foreign Policy advisor. Later the ANP and MQM lawmakers observed separate token-walkouts to protest the arrest of their workers in Karachi. The walkouts lasted eight and five minutes respectively.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Upper House met for eight hours, observing a break of two hours and 50 minutes.
- The sitting starting at 1045 hours ended at 1845 hours, witnessing a delay of 45 minute delay against the scheduled start time of 1000 hours.
- Seven Senators were present at the start of the proceedings, 20 at the end and a maximum 36 Senators at a point during the sitting.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House and the Opposition attended the sitting.
- Parliamentary leaders of PMLN, PPPP, ANP and JUIF attended the sitting.
- Three Senators applied for leave.
- One minority Senator was present.
Output
- The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs laid the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 before the House. The ordinance was sent to the relevant committee.
- Two reports of the Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2010 were presented before the house. The earlier bill aims for amendment in articles 9 and 10 while the latter insertion of new article 19B in the constitution.
Representation and Responsiveness
- All 22 starred questions on the agenda about the Ministries of Industries and Production and Finance were taken up. Twelve of them received answers from the relevant ministry. Additionally, 25 supplementary questions were asked.
- A PPPP legislator tabled the only Calling Attention Notice on the agenda about the proposal given to the Prime Minister to privatize Pakistan Steel Mills. The Minister for Industries and Production responded to the notice.
- Nine Members debated the presidential address to the parliament on June 10, 2013. Five PPPP Senators two MQM and a Senator each from ANP and BNPA expressed their views on the address.
Order and Institutionalization
- Senators spoke on five points of order consuming 30 minutes.
- Three walkouts were witnessed during the sitting. All opposition Senators led by parliamentary leader of PPPP staged a five-minute walkout over the absence of Foreign Policy Advisor. ANP and MQM Senators staged separate walkouts for eight and five minutes respectively over the arrest of their workers in Karachi.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Senators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI); a member organization of FAFEN