ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2017: The Senate passed two amendments in Pakistan Penal Code and adopted as many resolutions, recommending the government to promote celebration of religious festivals and ban vulgar content on media, observes Free and Fair Election Network on Monday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during sixth sitting of Senate’s 261^st session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and two minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 11 minutes due to prayers break.
• The sitting started three minutes behind the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 25 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Fifteen members (14%) were present at the outset and 14 (13%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, JUI-F, PkMAP, JI, ANP and PML-F attended the sitting.
• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• Moved by a PTI lawmaker, the House rejected the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Article 256) with majority vote.
• Moved by a PTI lawmaker, the House passed the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of section 323) and the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of sections 273, 274 and 275).
• A lawmaker belonging to MQM withdrew the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
• A member of the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented 14th follow up report of the committee regarding proposed conversion of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)’s land into residential/commercial plots.
• The House granted extension to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for presentation of its reports on the Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2017 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Articles 63, 177 and 193).
• The House was informed that the eight Private Members’ bills have been received from the standing committees.
• The House passed two resolutions urging the government to promote celebration of traditional religious festivals in schools and educational institutions and take steps to control indecent content on electronic, print and online media, moved by an Independent and a JI lawmaker, respectively.
• A PTI lawmaker withdrew his resolution regarding establishment of airport in Mansehra on the assurance of Advisor to the Prime Minister on Aviation.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Sixteen lawmakers discussed Mardan lynching incident consuming an hour and 19 minutes. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control concluded the discussion.
• Minister for Industries concluded the discussion on a commenced motion under Rule 218 regarding industrial growth in the country.
• Nine lawmakers took part in discussion on a motion under Rule 218 regarding water scarcity in the country. The discussion consumed 50 minutes and was concluded by the Minister for Water and Power.
• The House discussed a motion regarding universal access to quality medical care for five minutes. A lawmaker spoke on the motion while the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs concluded discussion on it.
• The House deferred the motions under Rule 218 regarding situation of hunger in Pakistan, status of polio virus and effects of coal-based power generation on the environment.
• Ministers for Petroleum and Commerce made statements on three Points of Public Importance regarding gas supply and wheat sale.

Order and Institutionalization 

• Chairman and three Senators spoke on Points of Order regarding adjournment of the Senate session earlier on Friday. The discussion consumed 28 minutes.

Transparency

• The 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.