• Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, December 20, 2017: The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills and winded up debate on an adjournment motion regarding recent sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 8^th (last) sitting of the 271^st session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and one minute while the proceedings remained suspended for 13 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1504 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• Prime Minister attended the sitting for 17 minutes.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 19 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 18 (17%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 12 (11%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of NP, MQM, PPPP, PTI, ANP, JUI-F, PkMAP, PML and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• The House passed two bills including the Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Apprenticeship Bill, 2017.
• Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Sates and Frontier Region presented special report of the Committee for period from August 31, 2016 to July 13, 2017.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Prime Minister briefed the House about provincial oversight of petroleum and gas policies. He spoke for four minutes.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) about delay in legislation for merger of FATA with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the non-availability of Computer Teachers in the Federal Government Schools and Colleges.
• The House passed fourteen motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension of 30 working days to Standing Committees on Interior, Cabinet Secretariat, Finance and a Special Committee for presentation of their reports on nine legislative proposals and five other matters raised through various parliamentary interventions. Nine of these motions were taken as supplementary agenda.
• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for discussion which was regarding effect of recent devaluation of Pak Rupee by over ten percent.
• Minister for Interior concluded debate on an adjournment motion about the situation arising out of the recent sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad. He spoke for 22 minutes.
• Six lawmakers spoke on points of public importance consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings. They highlighted the issues of women NIC registration, ban on INGOs and non-appointment of a member in IRSA.
• Chairman Senate gave his observation about disclosing the in-camera proceedings by the Senators. He spoke for 10 minutes on it.
• Nine out of 33 starred questions were taken up while the lawmakers asked 27 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• A PPPP lawmaker walked out of the House for 21 minutes over non-appointment of a member of IRSA.

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