ISLAMABAD, January 24, 2020: The Senate deferred 42 percent of its regular agenda on Friday and discussed a report of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 13th sitting of the 295th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for four hours and 15 minutes, however, the proceedings remained suspended for an hour and seven minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1033 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the sitting for 56 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by the Deputy Chairman.
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and 18 minutes.
- As many as 21 lawmakers (20%) were present at the outset and ten (9%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of JI, PML-N, PTI, PML-F, NP, PkMAP, MQMP and PPPP attended the sitting.
- As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House deferred the presentation of the Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs conceded to the opposition parties’ proposal that the legislation should initiate in the Parliament instead of coming as an ordinance. However, the final decision on the issue was postponed due to absence of the minister in-charge, i.e. Minister of Law and Justice.
- The House granted 60-day extension to the Standing Committees on Law and Justice, and Defence for presentation of their reports on matters referred to them.
- Chairperson Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented a report on a privilege motion moved by Senator Aurangzeb Khan December 18, 2019, against Director Food, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Leader of the House also informed the House that the Chair’s ruling for suspension of the official has yet not been complied. Chairperson Standing Committee and a PPPP lawmaker debated the issue for seven minutes.
- Chairman Standing Committee on Interior presented the committee’s report on the Islamabad Pure Food Authority Bill, 2019 while presentation of another report on the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was deferred on request of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up nine out of 64 starred questions while lawmakers asked 23 supplementary questions as well. However, the lawmakers raised objections over including the huge number of starred questions in agenda requiring oral reply which cannot be addressed in an hour.
- Eleven lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for an hour and two minutes.
- The House deferred the motion of thanks expressing gratitude to the President of Pakistan for his address to the Parliament on September 12, 2019.
Order and Institutionalization
- Three lawmakers including the Leader of the House spoke on points of order for four minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 27, 2020 (Monday) 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 proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted