ISLAMABAD, May 14, 2015: The Senate continued to witness low attendance of lawmakers on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started at its scheduled time of 1000 hours with 12 (11%) lawmakers present at the start and 48 (46%) at the time of adjournment.

The House discussed three various issues raised through public petitions which were about enhancement of upper age limit for CSS Examination,  oversight by the Senate of various Policy and Administrative Boards/Councils envisaged under various Acts of Parliament and operationalization of National Technology Council.

Convener of the Special Committee on Privilege presented report on the issue of letters written by the Section Officer (Council), Cabinet Division, Islamabad, for cancellation of Senate Business.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs). First CAN was about the decision to close the commercial centers at 8 pm in Islamabad while other was related to the delay in the completion of Makhi Farsh Link Canal.

The Chair did not admit an adjournment motion (AM) about non-absorption of two doctors working in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad. Two other AMs were not considered by the House due to absence of mover. These were related to terrorist attack on a bus at Karachi and statement made by Federal Minister for Information regarding the Ulema and students of religious seminaries.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for six hours and 13 minutes.
• The sitting started at its scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The House had a lunch break for 107 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for three hours and 44 minutes.
• The Deputy Chairman chaired the sitting for 42 minutes
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
• The Opposition Leader attended the sitting for 73 minutes.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• 12 senators (11%) were present at the start and 48 (46%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 53 senators (51%) attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, JUI-F, PML-N, PML-F, NP, PkMAP and BNP-A were present.
• Four minority members were present.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• Sponsored by PPPP lawmaker, the House adopted two resolutions acknowledging the presentation of two annual reports in the House for discussion. The first report was about the observance and implementation of the federation’s principles of policy in 2011-2012 while other was about the Council of Common Interests 2012-13.
• Convener of the Special Committee on Privilege presented report on the issue of letters written by the Section Officer (Council), Cabinet Division, Islamabad, for cancellation of Senate Business.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Two calling attention notices (CANs) on the closure of markets in Islamabad at 8pm and delay in completion of Makhi Farash Link Canal were taken up by the House.
• The House discussed three issues raised through public petitions which were about enhancement of upper age limit for CSS Examination,  oversight by the Senate of various Policy and Administrative Boards/Councils envisaged under various Acts of Parliament and operationalization of National Technology Council.
• The House discussed the medical entitlements of sitting and former senators’ family members for 41 minutes. PPPP lawmaker spoke on it for 27 minutes and MQM lawmaker for two minutes while Attorney General gave a statement on it for 13 minutes.
• Six out of 17 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 22 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

The lawmakers raised 20 points of order that consumed 44 minutes of the sitting time.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.