ISLAMABAD, March 11, 2015: The Senate took up its entire agenda during the last sitting of its 112th session on Wednesday. However, nearly 85% of the sitting was consumed by points of order (POs), says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 51 minutes behind the schedule with 21 members (20%) present at the start and 35 (34%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader attended the entire sitting. However, the Prime Minister was absent.

The House unanimously passed a resolution to pay tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader for their constitutional services.

A PPPP lawmaker presented a report prepared by the Standing Committee on Finance on the Securities Bill 2015 in addition to the committee’s periodic report for June 2012 to March 2015.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding issuance of Presidential Order to regulate the election of senators from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and eight minutes.
• The sitting started at 1121 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader attended the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• 21 members (20%) were present at the start and 35 (34%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 49 senators (47%) were present at one point of the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, MQM, PML-F, PPPP, ANP, PkMAP, PML-N and PML were present.
• Three minority members were present.
• One member applied for leave.

Output

• The House unanimously passed a resolution to pay tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader for their constitutional services.
• A PPPP lawmaker presented a report prepared by the Standing Committee on Finance on the Securities Bill 2015 in addition to the committee’s periodic report for June 2012 to March 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a CAN regarding issuance of Presidential Order to regulate the election of senators from FATA.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised 26 points of order that consumed 109 minutes (85%) of the sitting.
• Lawmakers belonging to MQM and PPPP staged a joint walkout at 1204 hours to protest the raid conducted by Rangers at the MQM Headquarters in Karachi on Wednesday. Although PPPP lawmakers came back to the House after two minutes, MQM members did not return till the sitting’s adjournment.

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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. 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.