ISLAMABAD, June 18, 2013: Eight Senators took part in the debate on budget in the fifth sitting of the 95th session of the Upper House on Tuesday. Meeting 32 minutes behind schedule, the sitting lasted two hours and 36 minutes.
Eight Senators – one each of ANP, MQM, PMLF, JUIF, PMLN, PML, PPPP and an Independent Senator – expressed views on budget for two hours and nine minutes.
Nine Senators were present at the start and 13 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 32 Senators were present at one point of sitting.
PPPP and PML Senators staged a five-minute token walkout over the taxation policy in the budget.
On four points of order Senators spoke for six minutes.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for two hours and 36 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1632 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 32 minutes.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House attended the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition and the Federal Minister for Finance were absent.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, JUI, MQM and PMLF were also present.
- Nine Senators were present at the start and 13 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 32 Senators were present at one point of sitting.
- No minority senator attended the sitting.
- Four members applied for leave.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Eight Senators spoke for two hours and nine minutes on budget. An ANP senator took the lead by sharing his views for 26 minutes, followed by a single member each of MQM (20 minutes), PMLF (19 minutes), JUIF and an Independent member (16 minutes each), PMLN (13), PMLQ (10) and a PPPP Senator debated the budget for nine minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- On four points of order Senators spoke for six minutes.
- PPPP and PML Senators staged a five-minute token walkout over the taxation policy in the budget.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
- Copies of the budget speech were available to the legislators.
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