ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2015: The Senate’s sitting on Tuesday was marked by thin attendance of lawmakers and a major part of the proceedings’ time consumed by points of order (POs), says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started at its scheduled time with 16 legislators (15%) present at the start and 39 (38%) at the time of adjournment. Twenty-four points of order (POs) consumed 82 minutes (44%) of the sitting.

The State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Countervailing Duties Ordnance 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015, the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015 and the General Elections 2013 Inquiry Commission Ordinance 2015 during the sitting.

The Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination moved a motion under Rule 157(2) to debate the 2012-13 annual report of the Council of Common Interests. The House decided to commence the debate on Wednesday.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) sponsored by an ANP lawmaker regarding blockage of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) belonging to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and five minutes.
• The sitting started at its scheduled time of 1015 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was also present.
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was absent.
• 16 senators (15%) were present at the start and 39 (38%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 48 senators (46%) were present at one point of the sitting
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-F, PPPP, PTI, PML-N, PkMAP, MQM, JUI-F, BNP-M and ANP were present.
• Three minority members were present.
• Six members applied for leave.

Output

• The State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Countervailing Duties Ordnance 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015, the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015 and the General Elections 2013 Inquiry Commission Ordinance 2015 during the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination moved a motion under Rule 157(2) to debate the 2012-13 annual report of the Council of Common Interests. The House decided to commence the debate on Wednesday.
• Fifteen out 17 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 30 supplementary questions during the sitting
• The House took up a CAN sponsored by an ANP lawmaker regarding blockage of CNICs belonging to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Order and Institutionalization

• Twenty-four POs consumed 82 minutes (44%) of the proceedings’ 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.