ISLAMABAD, October 6, 2015: The Senate passed two bills amid low attendance of lawmakers during the second sitting of its 120th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.
The House witnessed low attendance with only 18 (17%) legislators present at the start and 28 (27%) at the time of sitting’s adjournment. The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 24 minutes.
The bills passed by the House included the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Stock Exchanges (Corporatization, Demutualization and Integration) (Amendment) Bill 2015.
An adjournment motion (AM) regarding death of Pakistani Pilgrims in Mina was withdrawn by the mover as report was laid about this incident in previous sitting. Another AM regarding reservations of Sindh Government on Oil and Gas Policy was dropped due to movers’ absence.
The Chair admitted an AM for discussion regarding dispatch of incorrect bills to consumers as revealed in report of NEPRA for the year 2014-15. Another AM regarding violation of Line of Control (LoC) by Indian forces was discussed for 18 minutes by three PML-N lawmakers and one lawmaker each from ANP, PPPP, and PML.
The House witnessed presentation of reports on the National University of Medical Sciences Bill, 2015 and Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding cordoning off a playground-cum-funeral place by the security forces in a village in Abbottabad.
The House took up a CAN regarding withholding of refunds by FBR under SRO-180 dated 3rd March, 2011 (KPK Relief Package) and restricting the access of RTO, Peshawar to these refunds. Another CAN about recent issuance of Eurobonds worth $500 million by the Government of Pakistan at a substantial interest rate of 8.5% per annum was deferred.
The House passed a motion under Rule 204 to constitute a Special Committee on Ethics for finalizing the Rules of Procedure for a permanent Committee on Ethics and draft Code of Ethics for the Members.
Chairman Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights moved a motion under Rule 196(1) to consider report regarding corruption in federal government departments which was presented in the House on September 18, 2015. The House adopted this motion and decided to constitute an oversight committee after consultation between the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader in order to address this issue. Twelve lawmakers – three each from PPPP & PML-N, two from PTI and one each from PML, PkMAP, NP and BNP-M – debated this motion for 139 minutes while Chairman Senate spoke on it for two minutes.
A periodical report on non-broadcasting of programs in Balochi language by the Government controlled Media was presented.
Some key observations are as follows:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for four hours and 50 minutes
- The sitting started at 1502 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours
- Chairman presided over the sitting for three hours and 40 minutes while rest of the Proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Chairman
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting
- The Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 24 minutes.
- Prime Minister did not attend the sitting
- Eighteen (17%) senators were present at the start and 28 (27%) at the time of adjournment
- Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, BNP-M, PML-F, PTI, NP, PML-N, PML and JUI-F were present
- Two minority members were present
- Four members applied for leave
Output
- The House passed two bills including the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Stock Exchanges (Corporatization, Demutualization and Integration) (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
- The House witnessed presentation of reports on the National University of Medical Sciences Bill, 2015 and Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding cordoning off a playground-cum-funeral place by the security forces in a village in Abbottabad.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven of the 26 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. In addition, the lawmakers raised 25 supplementary questions.
- The House took up a CAN regarding withholding of refunds by FBR under SRO-180 dated 3rdMarch, 2011 (KPK Relief Package) and restricting the access of RTO, Peshawar to these refunds.
- The Chair admitted an AM for discussion regarding dispatch of incorrect bills to consumers as revealed in report of NEPRA for the year 2014-15.
- Another AM regarding violation of Line of Control (LoC) by Indian forces was discussed for 18 minutes by three PML-N lawmakers and one each of ANP, PPPP, and PML.
- Order and Institutionalization
- No point of order was raised during the sitting.
- The House had a prayer break for 19 minutes.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public
To download the factsheet, click here
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 excepted.