ISLAMABAD, December 22, 2014: Starting an hour and 12 minutes behind schedule, the second sitting of the Senate’s 109th session on Monday debated the terrorist attack at Army Public School in Peshawar, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.
Seven lawmakers – two belonging to PPPP, one each from ANP, NP, JUI-F, MQM and an independent senator – debated the commenced motion for two hours and 34 minutes (73% of the proceedings’ time).
Tabled by a PPPP senator, the House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the killing of JUI-F’s former senator Khalid Mehmood Soomro in Sukkur last month.
Moved by the Opposition Leader, the House passed a motion to suspend the routine agenda from December 23 to December 26, 2014 in order to debate the school attack. The House witnessed low attendance with 25 members (24%) present at the outset and 29 (28%) at the adjournment.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for three hours and 31 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1612 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 12 minutes.
- The House held a prayer break for 38 minutes.
- The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 19 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- Twenty-five members (24%) were present at the start and 29 (28%) at the adjournment.
- A maximum of 43 lawmakers (41%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, PkMAP, PML-F, JUI-F and NP attended the sitting.
- Two minority members were present.
- Five members applied for leave
Output
- Tabled by a PPPP senator, the House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the killing of JUIF’s former senator Khalid Mehmood Soomro in Sukkur last month.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven lawmakers – two belonging to PPPP and one each from ANP, NP, JUI-F, MQM and an Independent lawmaker – debated a motion on the terrorist attack at Army Public School for two hours and 34 minutes (73% of the proceedings’ time).
Order and Institutionalization
- Three points of order consumed two minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- No protests/walkouts/boycotts were witnessed during the entire sitting.
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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 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 regretted