ISLAMABAD, March 02, 2015: The second sitting of the Senate’s 111th session took just 23 minutes to pass four private members bills amid low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.

Starting 58 minutes behind the schedule, the sitting saw the presence of 10 senators (10%) at the start and 18 (17%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House, the Opposition Leader and the parliamentary leaders of PML, ANP, PPPP, MQM, PML-F, BNP-A, JUI-F and NP did not attend the sitting.

The bills passed by the House included Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014; Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2014; Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014 and Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2013.

The House took up a resolution submitted by JUI-F lawmaker regarding deployment of para-military force at Pak-China border, including Susat check-post was taken up by the House. The House would start debate on it in any of the next sittings.

The House discussed three motions under Rule 218 regarding situation arising out due to supply of contaminated water in Islamabad Capital Territory; overall performance of CDA with particular reference to removal of encroachments in commercial and residential areas in Islamabad and performance of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the wake of floods in September, 2014 in the country.

ANP lawmaker moved a motion to adopt amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, regarding amendment of sub-rule (1) of rule 198.  It was forwarded to the relevant committee with directions to submit report on it next Monday.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and 14 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1558 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Deputy Chairman was also present.
• Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Ten members (10%) were present at the start and 18 (17%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 35 senators (34%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• One minority member was present.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed four bills that included the Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014; Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2014; Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014 and Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
• A resolution submitted by JUI-F lawmaker regarding deployment of para-military force at Pak-China border, including Susat check-post was taken up by the House.

Representation and Responsiveness                    

• Submitted by PPPP lawmaker, the House discussed a motion under Rule 218 regarding situation arising out due to supply of contaminated water in Islamabad Capital Territory. Six lawmakers- PPPP (3), PML-N (2) and ANP (one)- participated in the debate for 25 minutes.
• Another motion submitted by JUI-F lawmaker under Rule 218 was taken up regarding overall performance of CDA with particular reference to removal of encroachments in commercial and residential areas in Islamabad. It was referred to the relevant committee for detailed report.
• The House discussed the performance of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the wake of floods in September, 2014 in the country following a motion by PPPP lawmaker under Rule 218.
• The commenced motion under Rule 218 about non-payment of net hydel profits to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in line with AGN Kazi formula and Arbitration Award of 2006 was taken up. The Chair gave the ruling of “talk it out” as the issue has already been discussed.
• ANP lawmaker moved a motion to adopt amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, regarding amendment of sub-rule (1) of rule 198.  It was forwarded to the relevant committee with directions to present report on it next Monday.

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.

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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 can in no way be taken to 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.