ISLAMABAD, February 20, 2018: The Senate held discussion on an adjournment motion regarding Pakistan’s greenhouse emissions and its effects on the environment, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet on Tuesday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during seventh sitting of 273^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and four minutes.
• The sitting started at 1506 hours against its scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and eight minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Presiding Officers.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 44 minutes.
• The Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PPPP, BNP-M, ANP, PML-N and PKMAP attended the sitting.
• As many as 11 lawmakers (10% of the total membership- 104) were present at the outset and seven (6%) at the end of sitting.
• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Information, a member of the Committee presented reports on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and a point of public importance regarding mismanagement in the affairs of APP Balochistan.
• On behalf of Convener Special Committee on the performance of PIA, a member of the Committee presented report on a point of public importance regarding the timings and parking difficulties of routine daily flight PK-300 from Karachi to Islamabad and the problems being faced by the PIA employees working or posted in Saudi Arabia. He also presented report on the Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the sale of PIA Airbus A-310 to a German Firm in violation of PPRA rules.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House debated an adjournment motion regarding Pakistan’s greenhouses emissions and its effects on the environment. Seven lawmakers participated in debate and spoke for 55 minutes.
• The House deferred a CAN on the request of mover which was regarding delay in supply of new cars.
• Another CAN towards the delay in NFC Award was not taken up due to absence of relevant minister.
• State Minister for Interior winded up discussion on a motion under rule 218 about the Government’s policy of banning the issuance of licenses for automatic weapons in the country.
• Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Energy were not present to respond on the points of public importance related to them.
• State Minister for Interior responded to a point of public importance and sought more details from the lawmaker regarding fraud by a homeopathic doctor in Rawalpindi.
• The House took up eight out of 20 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked 21 supplementary questions.
• The House passed five motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension to Standing Committees on Cabinet Secretariat and Finance for presentation of their reports till March 6, 2018.
• As many as seven lawmakers spoke on Points of Public Importance consuming 24 minutes of the proceedings

.Order and Institutionalization 

• The lawmakers did not raise any point of order.
• The Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout from the proceedings for five minutes against absence of the ministers from the House.

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