ISLAMABAD, July 9, 2015: The Senate passed four bills, including the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 2015 during the fourth sitting of its ongoing 117th session on Thursday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The House passed a motion with majority vote to immediately consider the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 2015 with a purpose to rationalize and reorganize the local government system in the Federal Capital Territory. After the passage of motion, Minister for Interior introduced the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 2015 which was later on passed by the House, after clause by clause reading of the bill.

Introduced by State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House also passed the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (First and Second Amendment) Bills and the Capital University of Science and Technology Bill, 2015.

Chairman, Standing Committee on Commerce presented the reports on the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Countervailing Duties Bill 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Bill 2015 and the National Tariff Commission Bill 2015.

Convener, Special Committee on Devolution Process presented a report on the “oversight or review by the Senate regarding nominations to various policy and Administrative boards, councils envisaged under various Acts of Parliament for ensuring that equal representation is given to all provinces” which was adopted by the House.

Chairman, Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights moved a motion to extend the period for submission of report on the issue of corruption in the federal government departments till September 12, 2015 which was also passed by the House.

The House witnessed presentation of four periodical reports by the relevant ministers on matters referred by the House regarding confiscation of CNIC of the people of FATA by the security agencies, protest of teachers of Welfare Board and Polio Workers on May 1, 2015 and alleged blocking of CNICs of Bengalis by the NADRA.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding ban on the INGO “Save the Children” and illegal and forcible grabbing of land in Chak Mohri Dakhli Sihala and nine other villages in Islamabad by the Emaar Housing Society.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and 41 minutes.
• The sitting started at scheduled time of 1300 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 41 minutes while the remaining proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Chairman.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader attended the entire sitting.
•  The Prime Minister was not present.
• 12 Senators (11%) were present at the start and 38 (37%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 49 Senators (47%) attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, BNP-M, MQM, NP, PML-N, PTI and PML-F were present.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Six members applied for leave.

Output

• Minister for Interior introduced the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2015 which was later on passed by the House, after clause by clause reading of the bill.
• Introduced by State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (First and Second Amendment) Bills and the Capital University of Science and Technology Bill, 2015.
• Chairman, Standing Committee on Commerce presented the reports on the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Countervailing Duties Bill 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Bill 2015 and the National Tariff Commission Bill 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two CANs regarding ban on the INGO “Save the Children” and illegal and forcible grabbing of land in Chak Mohri Dakhli, Sihala and nine other villages in Islamabad by the Emaar Housing Society.
• Nine out of 16 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 28 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised two points of order that consumed two minutes of the sitting time.
• The entire opposition staged a token walkout for one minute against the announcement of schedule for local government elections in Islamabad without any legislation.

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.  

To download the Factsheet, click here

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.