ISLAMABAD, March 4, 2019: The Senate passed two private members’ bills and referred four bills to the relevant Standing Committees for further consideration on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

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

Members’ Participation

• The House met for three hours and 41 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 15 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 two hours and 23 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and 12 minutes.
• 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 JUI-F, PTI, PML-N, PPPP, PML-F, JI, PkMAP, ANP and MQM attended the sitting.
• As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• The House passed the Day Care Centres Bill, 2018 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2017. These bills were sponsored by PPPP and JI lawmakers respectively.
• The House deferred four private members’ bills on the request of the movers. These bills included the Islamabad Community Integration Bill, 2019, the Maintenance and Welfare of Old Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2019, the Exit from Pakistan (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Banking Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018 PPPP. These bills were moved by Independent and PPPP lawmakers.
• The lawmakers belonging to PML-N and MQM introduced the Islamabad Compulsory Vaccination and Protection of Health Workers Bill, 2019, the Post Office Bill, 2019 and the Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2018. These bills were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration.
• The Chair referred the Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 of MQM lawmaker to the relevant committee again after being opposed by the Leader of the House.
• The House did not take up four resolutions scheduled for the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as five lawmakers belonging to JI, PML-N, PKMP, JUI-F and PTI participated in a debate on a Motion under Rule 218 regarding a news report about possible increase in inflation. They consumed 46 minutes of the proceedings. The Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Revenue also made statements on the motion consuming four and 18 minutes respectively.
• The Chair deferred two Motions under Rule 218 on the request of the movers. The motion had sought discussion on the performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the rapid increase in population.
• A motion regarding the performance of commercial counselors, commercial secretaries and trade ministers presently posted in Pakistan’s foreign missions was dropped due to the absence of its mover.
• As many as two lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for five minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• As many as 12 lawmakers spoke on Points of Order for 38. They highlighted the issues concerning killing of a Pakistani citizen Shakirullah in Indian jail.
• The opposition lawmakers walked out from the proceedings at 1734 hours against the absence of the government ministers.  They returned to the House after five minutes to walk out again at 1834 hours.
• A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1836 hours that led to the ringing of the Senate bells for five minutes. However, the quorum did not complete after the bells and the sitting was adjourned at 1841 hours to meet again on March 5, 2019 (Tuesday) 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