ISLAMABAD, March 21, 2017: The Senate on Tuesday took up the entire regular agenda and discussed the article of former ambassador to the United States for providing facilitation to CIA agents, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 12th sitting of the 260th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Senate met for two hours and 53 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1503 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
- Deputy Chairman as well as the Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 27 minutes, while the Leader of the Opposition remained present for two hours and 31 minutes.
- Parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, JUI-F, PTI, MQM, PPPP, ANP, PML and NP attended the proceedings.
- Twenty (19% of the total membership – 104) lawmakers were present at the start and 31 (30%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- Three minority legislators attended the proceedings.
Output
- On behalf of Chairman, Standing Committee on Science and Technology, a PTI lawmaker presented report on the COMSATS University Islamabad Bill, 2017.
- Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs responded to a Point of Public Importance on the death of Pakistani transgender in police custody in Saudi Arabia.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Fourteen lawmakers and Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs discussed an Adjournment Motion (AM) regarding the article of Hussain Haqqani published in Washington Post on March 10, 2017 with regard to facilitation of CIA agents in providing Pakistani visa. The AM appeared on the supplementary agenda and consumed two hours and 24 minutes.
- Another AM on regular agenda was, however, deferred on the request of the mover. It was about the need for effective monitoring of the executive by the Parliament, especially with respect to the re-emergence of circular debt.
- The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the continuous delay in finalization of the 9th NFC Award, and was responded to by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
- Another CAN related to the media reports of charging gas losses and theft from the public was deferred on the request of its sponsor.
- All 13 Starred Questions appearing on the agenda were taken up during the entire sitting. In addition, lawmakers asked 20 Supplementary Questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- Ten Points of Public Importance were discussed for 19 minutes.
- Opposition lawmakers walked out of the House for five minutes over the unsatisfactory reply of Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources on a CAN.
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