ISLAMABAD, November 16, 2021: The Senate transacted 93 percent agenda on Tuesday and was adjourned amid lack of quorum and opposition’s walkout from the proceedings, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in the Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during the sixth sitting of 315th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Senate met for an hour and 39 minutes.
- The sitting started at the scheduled time of 11:00 am.
- The chairman presided over the proceedings for an hour and 32 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of panel of presiding officers.
- The leaders of the house and the opposition attended the entire sitting.
- The leader of the opposition attended the sitting for three hours and six minutes.
- As many as 27 lawmakers (27%) were present at the outset and 24 (24%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, JI, PML, PkMAP and BAP attended the sitting.
- Two minority lawmaker were present.
Output
- Minister of state for parliamentary affairs presented two ordinances including the Protection of Parents Ordinance, 2021and the Pakistan Food Security Flow and Information Ordinance, 2021.
- Seven reports of various standing committees were presented on as many legislative proposals which included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Article 9); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 24A); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 38A); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Article 130); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Article 100); the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
- A report of Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on a point of public importance was presented which was regarding repair of out of order MRI machine in PIMS Hospital, Islamabad.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding about delay in revival of Karachi Circular Railway and present status of properties/hotels of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC). These CANs were responded to by Minister of railways and advisor to prime minister on parliamentary affairs.
- The House took up the only starred question while the lawmakers asked four supplementary questions.
- A motion of thanks to the President for his address to Parliament on September 13, 2021 was not taken up.
- Nine lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for 24 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- The opposition walked out from the House for at 12:33 pm and did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
- A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 12:34 pm which was found incomplete upon counting and the House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 10:30 am.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
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