ISLAMABAD, September 6, 2012:  The fourth sitting of the 85^th session of Senate lasted two hours and 56 minutes on Thursday witnessed low attendance of Senators. Only six were present when the proceedings began while 13 were there at the adjournment of the sitting.

Two Members – one each of the PMLN and MQM – spoke on the Motion regarding law and order in the country with particular reference to target killings and sectarian violence in Balochistan, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan for 42 minutes.

The Calling Attention Notice regarding migration to India of large number of Hindus from Jacobabad etc., due to security reasons was not taken up by the House.

Twenty-two questions were listed for the Question Hour; seven were put up and responded to by the relevant ministers. Additionally, 19 supplementary questions were also asked.

The BNPA and Independents from Balochistan walked out of the House expressing their reservations, as the House did not debate the law and order in Balochistan. They went out of the House at 1950 hours and did not come back to attend the remaining proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 56 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1744 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1700 hours. The House proceedings started 44 minutes late.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The Parliamentary Leaders of the JUIF, PMLF and the ANP attended the sitting.
• Six Senators (6%) were present at the start of the sitting while 13 (13%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Two Minority Senators were present during the sitting.
• Eight Senators applied for leave.
• The House took a 25 minutes prayer break.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A Calling Attention Notice regarding migration to India of large number of Hindus from Jacobabad etc., due to security reasons was not taken up by the House.
• Two Members – one each of the PMLN and MQM – spoke on the Motion regarding law and order in the country with particular reference to target killings and sectarian violence in Balochistan, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan for 42 minutes.
• Twenty-two questions were listed for the Question Hour; seven were put up and responded to by the relevant ministers. Additionally, 19 supplementary questions were also asked.

 Output

• There were no bills on the Orders of the day.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Seven Points of Order were raised which consumed 20 minutes of the sitting time.
• The BNPA and Independents from Balochistan walked out of the House expressing their reservations, as the House did not debate the law and order in Balochistan. They went out of the House at 1950 hours and did not come back to attend the remaining proceedings.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum was visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting. However, this was not pointed out by any of the Senators.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a member organization of FAFEN