The 98th session of the Senate was marked by a boycott by opposition benches over a dispute with the Interior Minister, low attendance of Senators and ministerial absence as the House left more than three – fourth of the agenda items listed on the Orders of the Day unaddressed.

The Senate held 10 sittings, starting from October 28 to November 8, 2013, which lasted 14 hours and 22 minutes. On average, each sitting spanned an hour and 26 minutes, with a delay of 72 minutes.
With the exception of MQM, the opposition benches boycotted the session over the alleged misconduct of the Federal Minister for Interior. The opposition alleged that during one of the question hours, the Interior Minister had provided inaccurate information to the House on the killings in terrorists’ attacks and urged him to withdraw his statement.

The Senate continued to meet in the absence of the opposition. However, it left 76% agenda on the Orders of the Day unaddressed. The House did not take up eight resolutions, five calling attention notices, nine Motions under Rule 218, three Motions under Rule 60 and a standing committee report.

Since the Senate Secretariat does not make public the attendance of Senators, FAFEN conducts a headcount at the start and end of each sitting. On average 19 legislators were present at the outset of each sitting while 26 were there at the adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages and was pointed out four times, once by an ANP and thrice by PPPP Senators.

Ministerial absence was also observed during the session. Only 32 starred questions (requiring oral replies) out of 248 (13%) appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministry. Additionally, legislators asked 81 supplementary questions.

The Chairman presided over 70% (10 hours and a minute) of the session while the remaining time 24% (three hours and 26 minutes) was chaired by the Members of the Panel of Presiding Officers. The Leader of the House attended 10 sittings while the Leader of the Opposition attended three sittings before he joined the opposition’s boycott.

The parliamentary leader of MQM attended nine sittings, followed by JUI-F party head (eight), ANP (four), BNP (two) and a single sitting by the PML leader. The Senators belonging to PML-F and PkMAP (single member parties) attended five and one sittings, respectively.

Comparatively, Senators’ participation improved in the session as 70 lawmakers (68%) took part in the session. Twenty-six percent lawmakers only submitted agenda on the Orders of the Day, 19 % took part in assembly debates while 22% (both) tabled and debated agenda.

The Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was the only bill which was introduced and sent to the relevant Standing Committee for further deliberation. The bill aims at providing protection to the properties of Pakistanis residing overseas “from Qabza Mafia and individual persons” in their absence.

Additionally, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution recommending the federal government to take effective steps to eradicate child labour in the country. The resolution was moved by a MQM Senator.
A total of 87 Points of Order were raised that consumed 25% (three hours and 39 minutes) of the session time. However, none of them attracted the Chairs’ formal ruling. Unless the Chair gives a formal ruling on a Point of Order, it does not lead to any assembly output.

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