• Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, May 15, 2018:  The Senate on Tuesday passed two government bills and discussed the deforestation challenge being confronted by the country, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the 12^th (last) sitting of 277^th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 20 minutes. The proceedings remained suspended for 17 minutes to review a government bill presented for passage on the same day of its introduction.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours. The scheduled time was changed from 1400 hours to 1500 hours under Rule 23 (b) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Senate, 2012.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Chairman Senate.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 56 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 14 (13%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 16 (15%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PTI and NP attended the sitting.
• Three minority lawmakers were present.

 Output 

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the atrocities committed by the Israelis occupation forces against the innocent Palestinians.
• Moved by Sate Minister for Finance, the House passed the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2018. Earlier, the motion to consider the bill was passed with majority vote as 25 lawmakers voted in favor of the motion and 16 against the motion.
• State Minister for Interior laid the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Ordinance, 2018.
• The House passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2018 and an amendment to this bill was rejected with majority vote.  Under Rule 96 (6), an Ordinance first laid before the Senate under paragraph (b) of clause (3) of Article 89 of the Constitution, read with sub-rule (1) of rule 145, shall be deemed to be a Bill introduced in the Senate on the day it is so laid and it shall also contain Statement of Objects and Reasons.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice regarding increase in thumb impressions verification fee by NADRA which will affect the election candidates applying for such verifications over the suspicion of rigging in their respective constituencies. It was responded to by the State Minister for Interior.
• The House deferred another CAN on the request of relevant minister which was regarding discontinuation of senior citizens’ and disabled persons’ discount by PIA.
• Eight lawmakers debated an adjournment motion for 40 minutes which was about the reports that Pakistan will run out of forests within next fifty years if deforestation continues at the current rate.
• Ten lawmakers raised 12 matters of public importance consuming 43 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

• PTI, MQM and PkMAP lawmakers staged a token walkout over their reservations onthe Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2018. They demanded to send this bill again to the relevant committee for further review on it.

 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