ISLAMABAD, November 13, 2015: With eight (7%) lawmakers present at the outset and 30 (29%) at the time of adjournment, the Senate took up 90 percent agenda during last sitting of its 121^st session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

The House passed the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill 2015, took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) and witnessed statement of Minister for Finance about NFC Award as well as discussion on an Adjournment Motion over an economic issue.

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceeding

• The Senate met for three hours and 21 minutes
• The sitting started four minutes behind the scheduled time of 1000 hours
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 30 minutes while rest of the proceeding was chaired by the Deputy Chairman
• The Prime Minister was not present
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting
• The Opposition Leader was absent
• Eight Senators (7%) were present at outset and 30 (29%) at end of the sitting
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, BNP-M, PTI, PML-N, ANP, PML-F, PML and JUI-F were present
• Two minority members were present

Output

• Introduced by Minister for Finance, the House passed the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in ten minutes.
• The House witnessed presentation of reports about starred question No. 21 posed on August 28, 2008, important of LNG and demands no.10 and 11 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine out of 15 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, the legislators raised 25 supplementary questions during the sitting.
• The House took up a CAN regarding a letter written by Chinese Company, expressing its concern over the execution of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.
• Another CAN about imposition of additional taxes on taxpayers was not taken up due to absence of mover.
• The House passed two motions under sub-rule (1) of rule 194 of the Rules of Procedure. First motion was about condoning delay in presentation of report to starred question no.21 asked on August 28, 2008 while other sought extension of 30-day in time period for presentation of report related to complaints against Private Hajj and Umra Operators.
• Minister for Finance gave a statement about 1^st Bi-annual Monitoring report on the implementation of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award (July-December, 2014) following motion under Rule 157 (2). He spoke on it for 32 minutes.
• Six lawmakers – PPPP (3), PTI (2) and MQM (one) – debated an adjournment motion for 32 minutes about accumulation of total debt over Rs. 3.81 trillion. Minister for Finance concluded debate on it during his 43 minutes speech.
• The Chair admitted an AM for discussion about transferring land of Pakistan Steel Mills to Sui Southern Gas.

Order and Institutionalization

• Four points of public importance consumed five minutes of the sitting’s time.
• All Opposition parties except BNP-M staged walk out of the House for five minutes against non-implementation on decisions made in All Parties Conference about China-Pak Economic Corridor.
• On the same issue, PkMAP lawmakers accompanied by entire Opposition walked out of the House at 1046 hours. The Opposition lawmakers returned to the House after 15 minutes, however, PkMAP lawmakers did not join the sitting till end.
• PkMAP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1050 hours following which the Chair Ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. However, it was found complete upon counting at 1055 hours.

 Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public
• The attendance of lawmakers was available to observers and media

 To download factsheet, click here 

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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