Rigging in general elections 2018 is a major issue. FAFEN reports on how the upper house of the parliament is treating it.

 

ISLAMABAD, August 31, 2018: The Senate on Friday transacted most of its business but again deferred debate on the issue of rigging in General Elections 2018, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Chair admitted an Adjournment Motion (AM) in the previous sitting for debate on the issue of rigging in General Elections 2018, but it could not be held due to absence of the government ministers. Though, ministers were present in today’s sitting but the House agreed to defer debate till Monday.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings during the fifth sitting of 281^st session:

Rigging in General Elections 2018: What Happened in Session?

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for an hour and 53 minutes.
• The sitting started one minute behind the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House was present for an hour and 42 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PTI, MQM, BNP-M, ANP and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• As many as 16 members (15% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 28 (27%) at the end of sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• The Leader of the House presented the Elections (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 before the House.

Rigging in General Elections 2018: Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding demand of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during a recent visit of the FATF delegation. It was responded to by the Minister for Finance.
• Another CAN regarding law and order situation in Gilgit Baltistan was also taken up by the House but it was responded to by the Leader of the House instead of any relevant minister. The sub-rule 1 of Rule 64 of Senate Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business says,” a member may call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and the Minister may make a brief statement or ask for time to make a statement at a later hour or date”.
• The House deferred debate on an AM regarding the issue of rigging in general elections, 2018 till Monday.
• The Chair admitted an AM regarding the disconcerting increase of 44.7 % as compared to year 2017 in current account deficit of Pakistan which has soared upto 17.994 billion USD.
• Another AM regarding the cases of human rights abuses was referred to the Committee while other motion about Pak-US relationship was dropped due to absence of relevant lawmaker.
• The House granted 30-day extension to the Standing Committee on Power and Clime Change for presentation of their reports on two various points of public importance.
• The House took up eight out of 30 Starred Questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions.
• As many as eight lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance consuming nine minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization 

• The House was adjourned to meet again on September 3, 2018 (Monday) at 1500 hours

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