• Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, December 20, 2017: The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills and winded up debate on an adjournment motion regarding recent sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 8^th (last) sitting of the 271^st session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and one minute while the proceedings remained suspended for 13 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1504 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• Prime Minister attended the sitting for 17 minutes.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 19 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 18 (17%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 12 (11%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of NP, MQM, PPPP, PTI, ANP, JUI-F, PkMAP, PML and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• The House passed two bills including the Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Apprenticeship Bill, 2017.
• Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Sates and Frontier Region presented special report of the Committee for period from August 31, 2016 to July 13, 2017.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Prime Minister briefed the House about provincial oversight of petroleum and gas policies. He spoke for four minutes.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) about delay in legislation for merger of FATA with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the non-availability of Computer Teachers in the Federal Government Schools and Colleges.
• The House passed fourteen motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension of 30 working days to Standing Committees on Interior, Cabinet Secretariat, Finance and a Special Committee for presentation of their reports on nine legislative proposals and five other matters raised through various parliamentary interventions. Nine of these motions were taken as supplementary agenda.
• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for discussion which was regarding effect of recent devaluation of Pak Rupee by over ten percent.
• Minister for Interior concluded debate on an adjournment motion about the situation arising out of the recent sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad. He spoke for 22 minutes.
• Six lawmakers spoke on points of public importance consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings. They highlighted the issues of women NIC registration, ban on INGOs and non-appointment of a member in IRSA.
• Chairman Senate gave his observation about disclosing the in-camera proceedings by the Senators. He spoke for 10 minutes on it.
• Nine out of 33 starred questions were taken up while the lawmakers asked 27 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• A PPPP lawmaker walked out of the House for 21 minutes over non-appointment of a member of IRSA.

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