ISLAMABAD, April 11, 2016: The Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) passed four bills including three private members’ bills on Monday during joint sitting of both Houses, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Joint Session of the Parliament was prorogued on conclusion of its business.

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Majlis-e-Shoora met for five hours and eight minutes.
• The proceeding remained suspended for 117 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1112 hours against its scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker of the National Assembly presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly was also present while the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate did not attend the sitting.
• The Prime Minister was not present while the Leader of the House in the Senate attended the sitting for 171 minutes
• The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate attended the sitting for 173 and 182 minutes respectively.
• 76 Parliamentarians (17%) were present at outset and 203 (45%) at the adjournment of the sitting.

Output

• Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Climate Change presented the reports of the Committee of Joint Sitting on the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2016, Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Privatization Commission (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015. The report of the Committee on the Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015 was not laid.
• The House passed the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2016 with majority vote. Twelve lawmakers spoke on it consuming 50 minutes of the proceeding.
• The House also passed the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2016 unanimously.
• The consideration of the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015 was deferred.
• Moved by the Leader of the House in the Senate, the Parliament also adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to uphold and protect the Constitution.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and a PML-N lawmaker spoke on the issue of Panama Leaks for 67 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on seven points of order consuming ten minutes of the proceeding.
• A Senator belonging to ANP staged a token walkout for ten minutes over not taking his party in confidence regarding the Pakistani International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2016.
• Entire Opposition except JI and women lawmakers belong to PML-N staged walkout against alleged indecent remarks by a JUI-F lawmaker about a women lawmaker of PTI. The women lawmakers of PML-N returned to the House after one minute while the Opposition lawmakers after four minutes of walkout.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public. 

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Majlis-e-Shoora proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.