ISLAMABAD, January 21, 2019: The Senate took up most of its agenda on `Orders of the Day’ and debated Sahiwal tragedy on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during first sitting of the 286th session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for four hours and 47 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 16 minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
- The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of House attended the sitting for four hours and 21 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hour and 23 minutes.
- The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- As many as 12 lawmakers (11%) were present at the outset and 23 (22%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, PPPP, JI, JUI-F, PkMAP, MQM and ANP attended the sitting.
- As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.
- A newly elected Senator from Balochistan took the oath.
Output
- Sponsored by an MQM lawmaker, the House passed the Federal Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
- Another bill – the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2018 – was referred to Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice after consent of the mover. However, the motion to consider the bill was earlier passed with majority vote.
- An Independent lawmaker and the lawmakers belonging to JI and MQM introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018] (Amendment of Article 260); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018] (Omission of clause (2) of Article 30 and the Compulsory Blood Test of the Spouses and Proposed Spouses for Thalassaemia Disease Bill, 2018. The House referred these bills to the relevant committees for further consideration.
- The House adopted four resolutions urging the government to implement the minimum wages for labourers, create Hazara Electric Supply Company; ensure availability of essential lifesaving medicines in the federal hospitals and safeguard the ownership and inherent rights of the people of Gwadar in CPEC project.
- Another resolution on the agenda was deferred on the request of the mover which demanded to conduct fresh census in Orakzai Agency.
- Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted a supplementary resolution to express sorrow over demise of PPPP leader Malik Hakmeen Khan.
- Chairperson Standing Committee on Interior presented reports on two legislative proposals including the Day Care Centers Bill, 2018 and the Exit from Pakistan (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2018. He also presented four other reports regarding delay in renewal of Arms Licenses, kidnapping of two persons from Peshawar, protection of street children in Islamabad and abduction of a 13 years old girl from Sargodha.
- Chairperson Standing Committee on Petroleum presented three reports regarding sale of shares by Premier Oil Pakistan Holding B.V, suspension of gas supply in Sindh and shortage of gas supply in Kalat, Mastung and Ziarat.
- Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting presented two reports regarding derogatory remarks against Pashtoons in a Private TV Channel program and insult of Pashtoons in an advertisement published by the Government.
- On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Aviation, a member of the Committee presented report regarding a newspaper story highlighting the involvement of PIA officers in smuggling and money laundering.
Representation and Responsiveness
- As many as 17 lawmakers spoke on Points of Public Importance consuming two hours and 18 minutes of the proceedings. These points were related to killings of civilians in Sahiwal by Counter Terrorism Department Punjab. Earlier, the Chair did not allow debate on it through an adjournment motion.
- The House deferred five motions under Rule 218 due to time constraint. These motions were about increase in the infant mortality rate; payment of royalty to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on account of electricity being generated from the Mangla Dam; human trafficking; health facilities at Islamabad’s public hospitals, and the foreign policy of Pakistan.
Order and Institutionalization
- An Independent lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1837 hours but it was found complete upon counting after ringing of the bells for five minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 22, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1430 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 proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted