ISLAMABAD, January 13, 2020: The Senate passed two private members’ bills and adopted four resolutions but deferred more than 50 percent agenda due to absence of relevant movers or ministers on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during eighth sitting of the 295th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 36 minutes.
- The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
- The Deputy Chairman was not present.
- The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 30 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour 20 minutes.
- As many as 15 lawmakers (14%) were present at the outset and 24 (23%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, PML-N, PTI and ANP attended the sitting.
- As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.
Output
- The House passed two private members’ bills including the Islamabad Community Integration Bill, 2019 and the Post Office Bill, 2019. The former bill was Opposed by the Minister for Interior but the House passed it after voice voting.
- The House passed three resolutions urging the government to arrange training and development of human resources in perspective of CPEC projects, provide Rs. 21 billion more to HEC to overcome financial crisis in public universities and establish a State of Art Trauma Center in all hospitals.
- Tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, the House passed a supplementary resolution to express sorrow over the sad demise of former Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim.
- On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, a member of the Committee presented report on the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
- The House deferred two bills seeking amendments in Articles 45 & 213 of the Constitution following request of the mover belonging to JI.
- A bill seeking amendment in Article 198 of the Constitution was deferred by the Chair who assured to consider it again in the House during the ongoing session after consultation with Leaders of the House and the Opposition.
- Another bill – the Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018 – was deferred on the request of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who convinced the mover for its re-consideration after a week.
- Three resolutions demanding to withdraw 10% increase in Toll Tax on Motorways, maintain scholarships announced for students of Balochistan and FATA in getting admission at Medical and Dental colleges and bring down the rate of population growth were deferred on the request of relevant movers.
- A PML-N lawmaker introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Articles 213 and 215) which was referred to the relevant committee for consideration.
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Representation and Responsiveness
- A motion under Rule 126 (7) for consideration of the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2019 in joint sitting was deferred on the request of relevant mover.
- Two motions under Rule 218 related to economic slowdown and performance of Pakistan Railways during the last one year were deferred on the request of relevant movers.
- The Chair referred a motion to the relevant committee after 37-minute debate participated by nine lawmakers. It was about decline in sale of the cars and other vehicles in country.
- A motion about increase of 8.9% in the fiscal deficit was deferred on the request of the minister while other regarding construction of Sindh Barrage on River Indus was deferred due to ministerial absence.
- Two motions about performance of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad and extinction of Ormuri (the native language of the Burki people) were dropped due to the absence of their movers.
Order and Institutionalization
- Twenty-one lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for 54 minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 14, 2020 (Tuesday) 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