Senate Discusses US Committee’s Threat to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 18, 2017: The Senate on Tuesday held discussion on the clubbed motions regarding the statement of US Armed Service Committee’s Chairman in Kabul against Pakistan and the ToRs of former Army Chief, who is heading the Riyadh-based Military Alliance, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during second sitting of Senate’s 264th session:

Members’ Participation

  • The Senate met for four hours and 11 minutes.
  • The sitting started on the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
  • The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
  • The Deputy Chairman was absent.
  • The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 15 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition remained in the House for two hours and 44 minutes.
  • Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML-N, PPPP, MQM, ANP, JUI-F and PML-F attended the sitting.
  • Twenty-two Senators (21% of the total membership) were present at the outset and 18 (17%) at the end of sitting.
  • Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

  • The House granted 30-day extension in presentation of two reports of the Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization and a Special Committee on Performance of PIA.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • Nineteen lawmakers took part in the discussion on clubbed motions under Rule 218 regarding the statement of US Armed Service Committee’s Chairman in Kabul against Pakistan and the ToRs for Pakistan’s retired Army Chief and Head of Riyadh-based Military Alliance. The discussion consumed two hours and four minutes of the proceedings and the Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs made a policy statement on these motions.
  • The House discussed another clubbed motion under Rule 218 regarding the issue of missing peons in Sindh and Non-implementation of National Action Plan. Twelve Senators took part in the discussion that consumed an hour and 15 minutes. The motion was concluded by the Minister of State for Interior.
  • Another six motions appearing on the List of Business under Rule 218 were not taken up by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

  • A PPPP lawmaker spoke on a Point of Order consuming five minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

  • Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
  • The attendance of lawmakers is available on Senate’s website.

This daily factsheet is based on the direct observation of Senate proceedings conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted.