• Session Prorogued Sine Die

ISLAMABAD, July 10, 2015: The Upper House of the Parliament left 52% of its agenda unaddressed on Friday during last sitting of its 117^th session as the House continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started at 1005 hours against its scheduled time of 1000 hours with 14 legislators (13%) present at the start and 34 (33%) at the time of adjournment.

The House passed the Credit Bureaus Bill, 2015 whereas four bills were not considered which including the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Countervailing Duties Bill 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Bill 2015 and the National Tariff Commission Bill 2015. The Chair deferred these four bills over non-completion of required time to be included in the notice agenda.

Chairman, Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony presented report on a resolution moved by former Senator Mrs. Farah Aqil, on February 2, 2015.

Chairman, Standing Committee on Water and Power presented report on unprecedented loss of lives caused by the summer heat wave of June, 2015, coupled with power cuts by K-Electric in Karachi.

Chairman Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs presented report about the General Elections 2013 Inquiry Commission Bill, 2015. The bill was aimed at constituting a Commission to inquire into the conduct of the General Elections, 2013 and for vesting such Commission with certain powers.

The House witnessed presentation of four periodical reports by the relevant ministers on matters referred by the House regarding non-existence of entry/exit roads for a number of educational institutions established in Sector H-8, Islamabad; non-provision of funds to the women of remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from BISP; increase in the fee by the private educational institutes and confiscation of agricultural products like wheat and rice by the customs officials on the pretext of controlling smuggling.

One of the periodical reports about taxing the free domestic air tickets issued to the employees of PIA was not presented in the House following which the Chair referred the issue to privilege committee for action against those responsible for not submitting reply.

Two calling attention notices (CANs) were taken up. The first CAN was regarding the destruction of homes and infrastructure along the working boundary due to heavy mortar shelling from the Indian side while other was about allotment of full quota of Umra Visas by the Saudi Embassy to the private agents who are charging Rs.80,000 to Rs.100,000 per visa.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 16 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1005 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for an hour and 11 minutes while the remaining proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Chairman.
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
• The Opposition leader was present for an hour and 21 minutes.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• 14 Senators (13%) were present at the start and 34 (33%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 42 Senators (40%) attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PTI, PkMAP, BNP-M, JUI-F, PML and NP were present.
• Two minority members were present.
• Two members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed the Credit Bureaus Bill, 2015.
• Four other bills were not considered by the House which included Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Countervailing Duties Bill 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Bill 2015 and the National Tariff Commission Bill 2015.
• Chairman, Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony presented report on a resolution moved by former Senator Mrs. Farah Aqil, on February 2, 2015.
• Chairman, Standing Committee on Water and Power presented report on unprecedented loss of lives caused by the summer heat wave of June, 2015, coupled with power cuts by  K-Electric in Karachi.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs presented report about the General Elections, 2013 Inquiry Commission Bill, 2015. The bill was aimed at constituting a Commission to inquire into the conduct of the General Elections, 2013 and for vesting such Commission with certain powers.

Representation and Responsiveness

•  The House took up two CANS regarding destruction of homes and infrastructure along the working boundary due to heavy mortar shelling from the Indian side and allotment of full quota of Umra Visas by the Saudi Embassy to the private agents.
• Eight out of 32 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 31 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.  

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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.