ISLAMABAD, June 15, 2016: The Senate transacted most of its agenda during 10th sitting of 249th session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for three hours and 36 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1102 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
- The House had a prayer break for 25 minutes.
- The Chairman chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was not present.
- The Leader of the House attended the sitting for 140 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 81 minutes.
- Finance Minister did not attend the sitting.
- Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PML, PML-F, MQM, BNP-M, ANP and PkMAP attended the sitting.
- Fifteen members (14% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 21 members (20%) at the end of the sitting.
- Three minority Senators attended the sitting.
Output
- State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented the National Command Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016.
- The House witnessed presentation of report by the Senate Body on Water and Power about the Private Power and Infrastructure (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
- The Chairman disallowed presentation of two reports of Standing Committee on Law and Justice terming them in contravention of the rules. He was of the view that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Law & Justice cannot attend the meetings of the committee because he does not have the portfolio of Minister and it is violation of Article 57 of Constitution and rules 198 (3),165 (1) of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate.
- A report of the Standing Committee on Information Technology for the period from May 13, 2015 to April 6, 2016 was not placed before the House as Chairman Senate Body claimed to present it earlier before the House. However, the House considered this report and later adopted it.
- The House also considered and adopted the 2nd Interim report of Special Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Eleven lawmakers and Minister for Planning and Development spoke on it for 50 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House passed six separate motions under sub-rule (1) of rule 194 to extend the presentation period of as many reports related to Standing Committees on Water and Power (3), Interior and Narcotics Control (2) and Law and Justice (one).
- The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs). The first CAN was regarding the decrease in the exports of textile and clothing by 3.5% during the first ten months of the current fiscal year while other was about reduction in supply of drinking water by the Military Engineering Service (MES) Department, Rawalpindi.
- Three Senators expressed their views on a commenced motion to make recommendations to National Assembly on the Finance Bill, 2016.They spoke on it for 37 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Nineteen Points of Public Importance consumed 60 minutes of the proceeding.
- MQM lawmakers walked out of the House for 11 minutes against postponement of mayor poll in Karachi.
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