ISLAMABAD, August 28, 2017: The Senate on Monday adopted four resolutions and witnessed introduction of a bill which was referred to the relevant committee for further consideration, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings of the sixth sitting of 266^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for an hour and 53 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1724 hours against the scheduled time of 1700 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• Deputy Chairman, the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, JUI-F, BNP-M, JI and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• Seven members (6% of the total membership) were present at the outset and 15 (14%) at the end.
• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• JI Parliamentary Leader introduced the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2017 which was referred to the relevant committee for further deliberations.
• The House adopted four resolutions to appoint homeopathic doctors in all government hospitals of Islamabad, end the country’s dependence on foreign and domestic loans, congratulate cricket team of Pakistan on winning ICC Champions Trophy, 2017 and preserve the culture as well as heritage of the people of Kalash and Chitral.

• A resolution on the agenda was not taken up due to the absence of the mover.

• The proposed amendments in rules 98, 100 and 203 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 were not considered due to the absence of the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House discussed a motion under Rule 218 about the need and importance to create awareness amongst the masses about the Constitution and Laws of the country. Nine lawmakers spoke on it for 53 minutes while Ministers for Federal Education and Professional Training and Law and Justice spoke on it for three and five minutes respectively.
• Another motion discussed by the House was regarding ratio of approval/ adoption of the recommendations of the Senate sent to the National Assembly on Finance Bill, 2017-18. JI lawmaker spoke on it for four minutes while Minister for Law and Justice concluded the discussion on it during his two minutes speech.
• Three other motions under rule 218 were deferred due to ministerial absence.
• Moved by Chairman Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, the House passed a motion under Rule 215. This motion was regarding withdrawal of the Committee’s report about the Islamabad Capital Territory Shops, Business and Industrial Establishments (Security) (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
• The Chair informed the lawmakers that the relevant standing committee had reported back on a joint bill namely the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016] (Amendment of Article 251). The Chair asked the Senators to move motions within ten days for consideration of bills reported back by their relevant Standing Committees; otherwise, these bills would be considered as disposed of.

Order and Institutionalization 

• One Point of Public Importance consumed two minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
•  The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.

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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