ISLAMABAD, December 26, 2014: Starting 42 minutes behind schedule, the fifth sitting of the Senate’s 109th session on Friday passed one bill and continued debate regarding attack at Army Public School in Peshawar, say Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.
Introduced by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, the House passed the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill, 2014 for prosecution of cases of gas theft and other offences and provide a procedure for recovery of due amounts.
Five lawmakers – two belonging to PPPP, one each from ANP, PML and PML-N – debated the commenced motion regarding attack by terrorists on Army Public School in Peshawar that continued for 57 minutes (68% of the proceedings’ time).
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for an hour and 24 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1112 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 42 minutes.
- The Chairman and Deputy Chairman were absent.
- A member of the Panel of Chairpersons presided over the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- Nine members (9%) were present at the start and 21 (20%) at the adjournment. A maximum of 27 lawmakers (26%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JUI-F and PML-N attended the sitting.
- Two minority members were present.
- Three members applied for leave.
Output
- Introduced by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, the House passed the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill, 2014 for prosecution of cases of gas theft as well as other offences and provide a procedure for recovery of due amounts.
- MQM Senator presented report of the Special Committee on Senate Secretariat Employees Cooperative Housing Society regarding a point of order raised by Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour on November 13, 2012.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Five lawmakers – two belonging to PPPP, one each from ANP, PML and PML-N- debated the commenced motion regarding attack by terrorists on Army Public School in Peshawar that continued for 57 minutes (68% of the proceedings’ time).
- A PPPP legislator moved a privilege motion against the surgeon of Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic) Islamabad which was referred to the relevant committee.
Order and Institutionalization
- Four points of order consumed eight 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