ISLAMABAD, November 4, 2015: The Senate witnessed another day of low attendance during the third sitting of its 121st session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

Only 7 (6%) legislators were present at the start and 32 (31%) at the time of adjournment of the sitting.
The House discussed an adjournment motion for 54 minutes regarding failure of Pakistan in re-election as Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 27 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 11 minutes while Leader of the Opposition was present for 27 minutes
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Seven (6%) senators were present at the start and 32 (31%) at the time of adjournment.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JUI-F, MQM, BNP-M, PTI, ANP and PML-N were present.
• Two minority members were present.
• Three members applied for leave.

Output

• Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power presented the report on Demands made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
• Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented three reports on as many privilege motions.
• State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs laid Annual Report on the Observance and Implementation of the Principles of Policy in relation to the affairs of the Federation for the year 2012-2013.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine out 21 starred questions appearing on the agenda were answered by the relevant departments while the Senators also raised 28 supplementary questions. The rest of the questions were not taken up due to absence of the mover.
• The House did not take up a Calling Attention Notice on the request of the mover regarding stopping improvement and expansion work at passenger’s terminal, Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar.
• An AM about the statement of Edward Joseph Snowden, former CIA official, that GCHQ, a secret agency of Britain, used to spy on the communication data of Pakistan was not discussed due to absence of relevant responding authorities. The Chair directed to issue notice to Secretary Cabinet for appearance in the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges and submit report by Tuesday on it.
• The House discussed an adjournment motion for 54 minutes regarding failure of Pakistan in re-election as Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).Nine lawmakers – PPPP (4) and one each of PkMAP, MQM, PML, PML-N and PTI – participated in debate on it.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on four points of public importance consuming 27 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers was available to observers and media.

To download factsheet, click here

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted