ISLAMABAD, August 30, 2018: The Senate deferred the debate on the issue of rigging in General Elections 2018 on Thursday due to absence of the government ministers, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings during the fourth sitting of 281^st session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and one minute.
• The sitting started three minutes behind the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting as the Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House was present for two hours and 43 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and 54 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PML-F, PPPP, PML-N, BNP-M, ANP, MQM, NP and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• As many as 15 members (14% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 27 (26%) at the end of sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution condemning the enforced disappearances in Pakistan and the world in connection with International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
• Chairman Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented the reports of the committee on three Privilege Motions.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Sponsored by a PML-N lawmaker, the Chair admitted an Adjournment Motion for debate on the issue of rigging in General Elections, 2018. However, the debate was not held due to absence of the government ministers and was postponed till next sitting on Friday.
• The Chair referred an Adjournment Motion regarding fake clinics and dispensaries operating in rural to the relevant committee while another motion regarding country’s soaring current account deficit was withdrawn by its mover.
• The House took up 14 out of 38 Starred Questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked 34 supplementary questions.
• As many as 18 lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance consuming 59 minutes of the proceedings.
• A Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding alleged failure of Result Transmission System in the General Elections was withdrawn by its movers.
• The House deferred the CAN about demands of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during a recent visit of the FATF delegation. The Chair directed the Minister for Finance to brief the House on this subject in the next sitting.
• The House granted 45-day extension to the Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development Division for presentation of its reports on the Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

Order and Institutionalization 

• As many as five lawmakers spoke on six points of order consuming 23 minutes of the proceedings.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on August 31, 2018 (Friday) at 1100 hours

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