ISLAMABAD, October 29, 2013: A report on the Right to Information act 2013 was presented in the second sitting of ninety-eighth session of Senate.

The report was presented by the Chairman of Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting under sub-rule (1) of rule 196 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The House allocated two hour discussion time to the report.

The Minister of State presented a report on 2nd Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

The House took nine of the 38 questions on the agenda. Before the question hour, a member of PPPP protested over the absence of Minister for Water and Power and all the questions related to the said ministry were deferred. Besides the question hour, 68% of the sitting time was consumed in 25 points of orders.

The Chairman presided over the entire sitting. Both the Leader of the House and the Leader of Opposition attended the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Upper House met for one hour and 57 minutes.
• The sitting starting at 1116 hours against the schedule start time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 46 minutes.
• Thirty Senators were present at the start of the proceedings, 40 at the end and a maximum 45 Senators at a point during the sitting.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, ANP, MQM, BNP and JUI-F attended the sitting.
• Three Senators applied for leave.
• Four minority Senators were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine of the 38 starred questions on the agenda about the Ministry of Petroleum were taken up. Additionally, 32 supplementary questions were asked. Questions related to Ministry for Water and Power were deferred over the absence of their minister.

• Chairman of Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting presented a special report Right to Information Act 2013. The House has allocated a two hour discussion time on the report.
• The State Minister laid before the House a report on the 2nd Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

Order and Institutionalization

• Senators spoke on 25 points of orders consuming 39 minutes.
• A Member of PPPP protested against the absence of Minister for Water and Power.

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 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.