ISLAMABAD, December 15, 2015: The Senate took up its entire business on Orders of the Day during the second sitting of its ongoing 122nd session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Tuesday.
The sitting started nine minutes behind the scheduled time with 14 legislators (13%) present at the start and 33 (32%) at the time of adjournment.
Some key observations are as follows:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Senate met for three hours and 49 minutes.
- The sitting started nine minutes late against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
- Chairman was not present.
- The Deputy Chairman presided over the sitting for 81 minutes while the rest of the proceeding was chaired by a member of panel of chairperson.
- The House had a prayer break for 19 minutes.
- The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 43 minutes.
- The Opposition Leader was present for two hours and 58 minutes
- Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
- Federal Ministers for SAFRON, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Climate Change, Industries and Production and State Ministers for CADD, National Health Services and Parliamentary Affairs were present.
- Fourteen (13%) senators were present at the start and 33 (32%) at the time of adjournment.
- Parliamentary leaders of MQM, BNP-M, PPPP, PTI, PkMAP, ANP, PML-F, NP and PML were present.
- Two minority members were present.
Output
- Introduced by Minister for Climate Change, the House passed the Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal Bill, 2015 in five minutes.
- Three Ordinances including the Pakistan Medical and Dental\Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 and the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Ordinance, 2015 were presented in the House by Minister for Climate Change.
- Minister for Climate Change laid a copy of the Money Bill, the Income Tax (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. A motion was also moved by him to make recommendations to National Assembly about it.
- The House gave approval to withdraw the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Bill, 2004 following a motion under Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
- Chairman, Standing Committee on Communications presented report on Starred Question No. 4 asked on February 4, 2014 and starred question No.9 asked on September 5, 2012.
- Chairman, Standing Committee on Defence presented report on disposal of pending business under sub-rule (3) of rule 207 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012.
- MQM lawmaker presented report of the Foreigners (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 and National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up one Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding appointment of National Security Advisor. Though another CAN about dilapidated condition of tunnel on railway track near Taxila was considered but it was deferred on the request of relevant ministry.
- The Chair admitted an adjournment motion (AM) regarding 15-18 hours gas load shedding in Quetta.
- Seven out of the 34 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. In addition, the lawmakers raised 29 supplementary questions.
- MQM Senator made objection to consider his CAN as an AM about levying of new taxes of Rs. 40 billion in the shape of mini budget. He spoke on it for seven minutes.
- State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs moved a motion of thanks to express deep gratitude to the President of Pakistan for his address to both the Houses assembled together on June 4, 2015. The debate on this motion would be held later.
Order and Institutionalization
- Seven points of public importance consumed seven minutes of the proceeding’s time.
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 proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.
