Session Prorogued
ISLAMABAD, April 23, 2014: The Senate rejected Sales Tax Amendment Bill, 2014, on the recommendation of standing committee and adopted a resolution to disapprove the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 during 8th sitting of the 103rd session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
MQM female lawmaker presented the report of Standing Committee on Finance regarding Sales Tax Amendment Bill, 2014, which was rejected by the House with majority vote.
Minister for Law and Justice laid Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 which was referred to the relevant committee.
Convener of Special Committee presented report on the issue of surveillance/raid at the residence of Senator Dr. Muhammad Jahangir Bader, the then Leader of the House, by some law enforcement agencies after condoning the delay period in presentation of this report.
Later, the Chair announced the prorogation of the Senate session.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for an hour and 23 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1550 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours with a delay of 50 minutes.
- The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting as the Chairman was not present.
- Fourteen senators were present at the outset, 38 at the adjournment while a maximum of 51 at one point during the proceedings.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, MQM, PkMAP, PML-F and ANP attended the sitting.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Nine members applied for leave.
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 20 minutes.
Output
- Tabled by two PPPP lawmakers, the House adopted a resolution with majority vote, disapproving the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.
- Minister for Law and Justice laid Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 which was referred to the relevant committee.
- MQM female lawmaker presented report of Standing Committee on Finance regarding Sales Tax Amendment Bill, 2014. The House acted on the advice of the committee and rejected the bill with majority vote.
- Convener of Special Committee presented report on the issue of surveillance/raid at the residence of Senator Dr. Muhammad Jahangir Bader, the then Leader of the House, by some law enforcement agencies after condoning the delay period in presentation of this report.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms moved a motion under Rule 218 to start discussion on the Pakistan Vision 2025 and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The House agreed to discuss it in the next session.
- PPPP lawmaker moved another motion under Rule 60 regarding the cost and completion dates of certain highway projects in Balochistan. The House agreed to discuss it in the next session.
- Sponsored by ANP lawmaker, the House took up CAN regarding the stoppage of vehicles carrying wheat by the Punjab government from entering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to it on behalf of the government.
- The House also took up eight of 33 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The senators asked 24 supplementary questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on senators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.
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 excepted.