ISLAMABAD, March 8, 2017: The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution to acknowledge contribution of the women lawmakers for development of the country and their struggle for democratic rights of the people, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Minister for Finance gave policy statement on signing an agreement with Switzerland on exchanging information related to the bank accounts.

Chairman of the Senate gave ruling on the use of Rule 99 and Rule 100 and announced the allocation of opposition benches to FATA lawmakers on their formal request.

Following are key observations of the House business during 4^th sitting of 260^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The House had a prayer break of 11 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for three hours and seven minutes while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Presiding Officers.
• Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition remained present for 90 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, PPPP, PML-F, MQM, NP, PkMAP, JI, ANP, PTI and PML attended the sitting.
• Eighteen (17% of the total membership – 104) lawmakers were present at the start and 14 (13%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• Three minority legislators attended the proceedings.

 Output

• Tabled by Minister for Law and Justice, the House passed the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Bill, 2016.
• Convener, Special Committee on 24 Demands made by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented the report.
• Chairman of the Senate referred back a report to Law and Justice Committee on the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2017 for further consideration. The Chair directed the committee to report it back within 30 days.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed four motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension to various committees for presentation of reports.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs). The first CAN was about due dates of payment of the electricity bills in the last days of every month while the other notice was regarding increase in circular debt pertaining to IPPs.
• Eighteen out of 40 Starred Questions appearing on the agenda were taken up during the sitting. In addition, lawmakers asked 37 Supplementary Questions.
• The House discussed a motion under Rule 60 regarding writing off of Rs. 4,600 million loans by the banks. The mover and the Minister for Law and Justice spoke on it for 10 minutes.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Sixteen Points of Public Importance were discussed for 93 minutes.
• The entire opposition walked out of the House for three minutes over unsatisfactory reply to a CAN by Minister for Water and Power.

 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 proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted