ISLAMABAD, January 16, 2017: The Senate adopted three resolutions and witnessed introduction of two private members’ bills on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during sixth sitting of Senate’s 258^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 57 minutes.
• The sitting started two minutes late against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The House took prayer break of 19 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was present while Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 18 minutes.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JI, MQM, JUI-F, ANP, PML-N, PML-F, PTI and PML attended the sitting.
• Twenty (19% of the total membership – 104) lawmakers were present at the start and 28 (27%) at the end of sitting.
• One minority legislator attended the proceedings.

 Output

• The House witnessed introduction of the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Ehtram-e-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which were referred to the relevant committees for further deliberations.
• The House did not grant the leave to introduce the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Article 203F).
• The members were informed that seven bills – the National Cyber Security Council Bill, 2014; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015(Omission of Article 182); the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Prohibition  of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Article 28); the Islamabad Prohibition of Sheesha Smoking Bill,  2016 and the  Civil  Courts  (Amendment) Bill, 2016 – have been received back from the standing committees and they can make a motion under Rule 100 for further consideration of these bills.

• The House adopted three resolutions condemning the statement of Indian Prime Minister against Pakistan and urging the government to start evening and night shifts at dispensaries in the rural areas of Islamabad and provide interest free loans to farmers for installation of solar tube wells in the country.
• The House deferred a resolution regarding condemnation of violence against Muslims of Syria and Burma on the request of absent mover.
• The House dropped another resolution regarding strict action against the persons involved in manufacturing and sale of substandard LPG cylinders in Islamabad due to mover’s absence.

• The House adopted an amendment in Rule 182 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House discussed five Motions under Rule 218 on the subjects related to Indian aggression at the Line of Control (LOC); reforms in Central Superior Services examination; present status of Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC); drastic increase in production and sale of low quality and non-duty paid cigarettes and high rate of unemployment in the country.
• A motion regarding provision of services on motorways and national highways was dropped due to mover’s absence.

• Minister for Finance gave a statement about increase in prices of petroleum products and spoke for nine minutes.
• State Minister for Interior gave a statement about disappearances of rights’ activists and apprised the House about efforts being made to recover them.
• A privilege motion of ANP lawmaker was referred to the relevant committee.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers discussed eight Points of Public Importance consuming 19 minutes.

 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 proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted