ISLAMABAD, June 8, 2017: The Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the terrorist incidents on the Parliament and the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in Iran, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The House, meanwhile, concluded debate on the budget and adopted recommendations on the Finance Bill, 2017 presented by the Standing Committee on Finance. Minister for Finance expressed his views on the recommendations and concluded the debate on the budget.

Following are key observations of the proceedings of 10^th sitting of 263^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 44 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1102 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• A Member of Panel of Presiding Officers chaired the entire sitting.
• Chairman Senate did not attend the sitting for assuming charge as Acting President while the Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House was present for two hours and 18 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of NP, BNP-M, PPPP, PkMAP, PML, JUI-F, MQM and ANP attended the sitting.
• Thirteen Senators (12% of the total membership) were present at the outset and 15 (14%) at the end of sitting.
• Three minority lawmakers also attended the sitting.

Output

• The House adopted recommendations on the Finance Bill, 2017 containing the Annual Budget Statement as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance.
• The House witnessed presentation of four reports – one each of Standing Committee on Law and Justice; Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research; Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and Standing Committee on Finance.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three Senators took part in the debate on the Finance Bill 2017, consuming 28 minutes of the proceedings. Minister for Finance also expressed his views on the recommendations of Senators on the Finance Bill, 2017 for an hour and 13 minutes.
• The Chair did not admit an Adjournment Motion on the agenda for being in contravention with the rules.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) on the activities of 41 banned outfits operating openly on the Facebook. It was responded to by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
• Another CAN regarding statement of the U.S Intelligence Chief during meeting of the U.S Senate Armed Services Committee was deferred due to the absence of the mover.
• The ministerial response on three issues was deferred due to the absence of the relevant government functionary.

Order and Institutionalization

• An ANP lawmaker walked out of the House for nine minutes against the remarks of FATA lawmaker about his party and reservations on few recommendations.
• FATA lawmakers walked out of the House for 13 minutes over their reservations on few recommendations related to their region and demanded to withdraw them. Later, their demand was accepted and three recommendations were withdrawn.
• A PPPP female lawmaker walked out of the House for not considering her agenda on `Order of the Day’ and for not getting permission to speak.
• Five Points of Public Importance consumed 29 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of the lawmakers as well as the Daily Journal of the Proceedings are 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