ISLAMABAD, March 5, 2018: The Senate on Monday adopted four resolutions and passed one private member’s bill, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the first sitting of 274^th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for two hours and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman and the Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 55 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 14 (13%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 20 (19%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PPPP, PML-N and BNP-M attended the sitting.
• One minority lawmaker was present.

Output 

• The House adopted four resolutions to make a policy for provision of jammers for private vehicles of high profile figures, allocate 2 to 5 % amount of the CPEC funds for less developed areas, introduce organic farming technologies in the agricultural sector and provide jobs in the public sector on the basis of merit only.
• A resolution to stop provision of development funds to Parliamentarians was deferred on the request of relevant minister.
• Moved by PPPP Senator, the House passed the National Civic Education Commission Bill, 2017.
• The House witnessed introduction of four private members’ bills including the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the Companies Profits (Workers’ Participation) (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2017. All these bills were referred to the relevant committees for further deliberations.
• A bill – the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017 – was deferred.
• Under Rule 115, a PTI lawmaker withdrew the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2017] (Insertion of new section 48A and amendment of section 241) introduced by him on November 6, 2017.
• Four reports on legislative proposals including the National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the National Civic Education Commission Bill, 2017, the National Skills University Islamabad Bill, 2017 and the Corporate Rehabilitation Bill, 2018 were presented in the House.
• On behalf of Chairperson Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, a member of the committee presented report on the proposed Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for the Financial Year 2018-19.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Ten lawmakers discussed a motion for right of vote to overseas Pakistanis for 22 minutes while Minister for Law and Justice winded up debate on it during his eight minutes speech.
• A motion regarding the non-issuance of CNICs to a large number of women was discussed by seven lawmakers for 28 minutes. State Minister for Interior concluded debate on it and spoke for eight minutes.
• Two lawmakers debated a motion for 14 minutes which was regarding alarming increase in domestic debt of the country. State Minister for Finance winded up debate on it during his five minutes speech.
• The House did not take up three motions under Rule 218 due to absence of relevant lawmakers who sponsored them.
• The House passed a motion under Rule 194 (1) to extend the deadline for presenting report on a Calling Attention Notice regarding thirty promotional posts of Custom Inspectors lying vacant in the Customs Collectorate of Quetta.
• As many as four lawmakers spoke on Points of Public Importance consuming six minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

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

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