ISLAMABAD, March 6, 2019: The Senate took up its entire agenda and debated violation of Pakistan’s maritime boundary by India, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during sixth sitting of 287^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for four hour and 48 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 27 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of House attended the sitting for four hours and five minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 15 lawmakers (14%) were present at the outset and 19 (18%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PML-F, PTI, ANP, BNP-M, PkMAP and MQM attended the sitting.
• As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Minister for Law and Justice introduced the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which was referred to the relevant committee.
• Convener Special Committee on Causes of Decline in Tax Collection of Tobacco Sector presented report of the Committee.
• The House granted sixty-day extension to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs for presentation of its report on a point of public importance regarding stoppage of funds for National Institute of Blood Diseases and a starred question about core responsibilities and jurisdiction of ERRA.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion regarding violation of Pakistan’s maritime boundary by India. Ten lawmakers spoke on it for an hour and 40 minutes while Minister for Defecne gave a policy statement on it.
• The House took up nine out of 38 Starred Questions while one question was deferred on the government’s request, two lapsed due to the absence of the movers while 26 questions were not considered. The lawmakers also asked 21 supplementary questions.
• As many as nine lawmakers raised Points of Public Importance for 19 minutes.
• Minister for Human Rights responded to points of public importance raised in the previous sitting regarding death of a Pakistani citizen in Indian jail. She spoke for four minutes.
• Minister for Petroleum Division and State Minister for Revenue responded to Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding increase in the prices of natural gas and non-payment of Rs.100 billion to the merged areas of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Order and Institutionalization 

• The Leader of the House spoke on a point of order for one minute.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on March 7, 2019 (Thursday) at 1500 hours.

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