ISLAMABAD, June 11, 2015: The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the anti-Pakistan statement of Indian Prime Minister and continued debate on the Finance Bill, 2015 during 5^th sitting of 116^th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Twenty-two lawmakers- PML-N (8), followed by PPPP (4), NP and PML (2 each) and one each of PML-F, MQM, BNP-M, JUI-F, ANP, PTI  spoke on the resolution for 69 minutes.

Starting at the scheduled time, the Senate sitting witnessed low attendance of legislators as 13 members (12%) were present at the start and 12 (11%) at the end of the sitting.

Fourteen Senators expressed their views on a motion to make recommendations to National Assembly on the Finance Bill, 2015 which included six lawmakers from PPPP followed by PML-N (3), PkMAP (2) and one each of NP, JI and MQM.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for six hours and 36 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The House had a lunch and prayer break for an hour and 29 minutes.
• The Chairman chaired the sitting for two hours and 58 minutes, the Deputy Chairman for 60 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by a member of panel of chairpersons.
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for four hours and 30 minutes.
• Parliamentary leaders of MQM, BNP-M, PML, PML-F, JI, JUI-F, PkMAP, PPPP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• 13 members (12% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 12 (11%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 48 lawmakers (46%) were present at the time of adjournment.
• Three minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
• Three legislators applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by the Leader of the House, the House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn statement of Indian Prime Minister against Pakistan.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Fourteen Senators expressed their views on a motion to make recommendations to National Assembly on the Finance Bill, 2015. Six lawmakers were from PPPP, followed by PML-N (3), PkMAP (2) and one each of NP, JI and MQM.
• The House did not take up two calling attention notices (CANs) regarding the rapid increase in slum areas (Kachi Abadis) all over the country and alleged irregularities and rigging in the recent local bodies elections in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for discussion regarding a dispute between PSO and PNSC due to which shortage of petrol is likely to prevail in the country during the month of Ramadan.
• An Adjournment Motion (AM) regarding appointment of officers of BPS-21 and 22 in the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deferred on the request of Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination as he informed the House that the State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs is busy in National Assembly for budget session.
• The other AM related to the unreasonable treatment by the Federal Government with the people of Balochistan was not admitted by the Chair.
• The third AM was dropped due to the absence of mover which was about alleged rigging in the recently held Local Bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and incidents of violence during those elections.

Order and Institutionalization

• Two points of order consumed three minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Senators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.  

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This publication is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.