ISLAMABAD, September 17, 2015: The Senate continued to witness thin attendance of lawmakers during its sitting on Thursday as Points of Order (POs) consumed more than two-fifths (43%) of sitting’s time, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Only 15 lawmakers (14%) were present at the outset and 20 (19%) at the time of adjournment. The lawmakers raised 32 POs which took up 43% (107 minutes) of the proceedings’ time.

Senate discussed an adjournment motion regarding status of and steps taken by the government for construction and rehabilitation of the 2005 earthquake affected areas. Six lawmakers – three from PML-N, two from PPPP and one from PTI – participated in the debate for 25 minutes while Chairman Senate spoke for two minutes.

The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for debate regarding failure of Nandipur Power Project.  The House witnessed presentation of reports regarding the Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and absence of Senior Officers from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources in the Official Gallery of the Senate on August 3, 2015.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding the sit-ins outside the Pakistan Embassy at Athens since August 24, 2015 by a large number of Pakistanis residing in Greece, against corruption of the Embassy staff.

The House passed a motion to extend the time period for presentation of report regarding lapse of foreign scholarships offered by various countries for the students of Pakistan for up to two months.

Two periodical reports regarding geological changes in Gilgit and Hunza and about recommendations of Standing Committees on Railways were presented in the House.

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for four hours and eight minutes.
• The sitting started at 1501 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 58 minutes while a member of panel of chairpersons chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader attended the entire sitting.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Fifteen (14%) senators were present at the start and 20 (19%) at the time of adjournment.
• Parliamentary leaders of ANP, PML-F, BNP-M, PkMAP, PML-N, NP and PML were present.
• Three minority members were present.
• Eight members applied for leave.

Output

• The House witnessed presentation of reports regarding the Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and absence of Senior Officers from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources in the Official Gallery of the Senate on August 3, 2015.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a CAN regarding the sit-ins outside the Pakistan Embassy at Athens since August 24, 2015. Another CAN about increase in the fee and other expenditures of heart surgery by the administration of PIMS was not taken up due to absence of mover.
• The House discussed an adjournment motion regarding status of and steps taken by the government for construction and rehabilitation of the 2005 earthquake affected areas.
• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for debate regarding failure of Nandipur Power Project.
• Eight out of 22 starred questions appearing on the agenda were answered by the relevant departments while the Senators also raised 33 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised 32 POs which took up 43% (107 minutes) of the proceedings’ time.
• PPPP lawmakers led by Opposition Leader staged a token walkout for one minute against dissatisfactory statement by Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs regarding foreign issues.
• Three PPPP lawmakers walked out of the House at 1828 hours for not fulfilling the commitments made with medical staff and paramedical staff of government hospitals in Islamabad and controversy on distribution of BISP fund in Sindh and Balochistan. They did not return to the House till end of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public

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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 are excepted.