ISLAMABAD, August 1, 2019: The resolutions to remove Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate were rejected on Thursday, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings of the only sitting of 292nd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and six minutes.
• The sitting started at 1418 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• The Presiding Officer appointed by the President chaired the entire sitting.
• The Leaders of the House and the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• All parliamentary leaders except of JI attended the sitting.
• As many as 91 senators (87 percent of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 83 (80 percent) at the end of sitting.

Output

• The Leader of the Opposition moved the resolution for the removal of Senator Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani from the office of the Chairman, Senate of Pakistan. As many as 50 lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution. Subsequently, the resolution was rejected as it could not obtain the votes of the majority of the Senate membership. Earlier, 64 members supported the motion seeking leave to move the resolution. The voting on the resolution was done through secret ballot, and on the motion for leave through rising on the seats.
• The Leader of the House moved the resolution for the removal of Senator Saleem Mandviwala from the office of the Deputy Chairman, Senate of Pakistan. As many as 32 lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution. Subsequently, the resolution was rejected as it could not obtain the votes of the majority of the Senate membership. Earlier, 34 members supported the motion seeking leave to move the resolution. A majority of the opposition lawmakers except three abstained from voting on the resolution. The voting on the resolution was done through secret ballot, and on the motion for leave through rising on the seats.

Order and Institutionalization

• The Session was prorogued sine die.

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