ISLAMABAD, September 27, 2016: The lawmakers in the Senate expressed strong reaction over Indian threats to suspend Indus Water Treaty, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in the Daily Factsheet on Tuesday.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings during second sitting of 253^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 16 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1502 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 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 while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 49 minutes.
• Twenty-nine members (28%) were present at the outset and 25 (24%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, MQM, PML-F, PML, PkMAP, BNP-M, ANP, NP, and JI attended the sitting.
• Three minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• The House approved an amendment to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Senate 2012. The amendment empowered the committees to hold public hearing for seeking input from citizens at large in relation to any matter under its consideration.
• The House granted the Standing Committee on Housing & Works extension in time for presentation of a committee report.
• Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and the Chairman, Committee on FATA Reforms, laid before the Senate the report of the Committee on FATA Reforms, 2016. The Chair referred the report to the Committee of the Whole.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as 30 out of 41 Starred Questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers during Question Hour. The lawmakers also asked 45 Supplementary Questions.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice regarding non-regularization of employees of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources while another notice was deferred on the request of the mover.
• Three lawmakers spoke for 56 minutes on the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament.
• Twelve lawmakers spoke on Points of Public Importance regarding Indian threats to suspend Indus Water Treaty consuming 40 minutes of proceedings.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Communications moved a Privilege Motion against the Chief Secretary Balochistan for not attending a meeting of the committee. The motion was referred to the relevant committee.

Order and Institutionalization 

• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1812 hours that led to the adjournment of the sitting at 1818 hours.
• The Secretary Senate, on directions of the Chair, read to the House the proposed Code of Conduct for lawmakers to be followed in discharge of their parliamentary duties. The Chairman sought Members input on the Code.

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