92 recommendations to be sent to NA; Session prorogued

ISLAMABAD, June 17, 2015: The Senate concluded debate on the Finance Bill 2015 during the 9^th (last) sitting of its 116^th session on Wednesday, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Sixteen members (15%) were present at the start and 38 (37%) at the time of adjournment of the sitting. The debate on Finance Bill started during the 3^rd sitting and concluded today. In all, 56 lawmakers expressed their views and gave recommendations for the consideration of the National Assembly.

The Chair did not admit an adjournment motion (AM) regarding the alleged involvement of foreign embassies in telephone tapping. However, it was forwarded to the relevant standing committee for submission of report within two months.

Another AM regarding injudicious/out-of-turn allotment of government accommodation particularly to the employees of the Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, was admitted for two-hour debate in any of the next sittings.

The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs). The first CAN was about Pakistan-Afghanistan refugees getting Indian citizenship while the other was regarding disclosures made by D.G. Rangers Sindh in the Apex Committee meeting relating to the worsening law and order in the metropolis (Karachi).

The Senate made 92 recommendations on the Finance Bill 2015 which will be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.

A privilege motion of PPPP lawmaker regarding announcement of Local Government election schedule in Islamabad Capital Territory despite pending of relevant bill in the Senate standing committee was considered and forwarded to the relevant committee.

A newly-elected PPPP lawmaker took the oath.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and 52 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1034 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours with a delay of four minutes.
• The sitting was entirely chaired by a member of the Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chairman and Deputy Chairman were not present.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader attended the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, ANP, NP, BNP-M, PML-N and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• 16 members (15%) were present at the start and 38 (37%) at the end of sitting.
• A maximum of 45 lawmakers (43%) attended the proceedings.
• Three non-Muslim members were present.
• No member applied for leave.

Output

• Chairman, Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented reports on the proposals for making recommendations to the Finance Bill, 2015 containing the Annual Budget Statement and the Money Bill, the Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• One PPPP lawmaker participated in the budget debate for six minutes.
• The House adopted two motions moved by Chairman, Standing Committee on Finance, to adopt recommendations on the Finance Bill 2015, containing the Annual Budget Statement and the Money Bill, the Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015.
• The House took up two calling attention notices (CANs). The first CAN was about refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan getting Indian citizenship while the other was about disclosures made by the D.G. Rangers Sindh in the Apex Committee meeting regarding worsening law and order in the metropolis (Karachi).
• An AM regarding injudicious/out-of-turn allotment of government accommodations particularly to the employees of the Islamabad High Court, Islamabad was admitted for two-hour debate in any of the next sittings.
• The Chair did not admit an adjournment motion (AM) regarding the alleged involvement of foreign embassies in telephone tapping. However, it was forwarded to the relevant standing committee for submission of report within two months.
• Despite the absence of the mover, the House took up an AM regarding the dispute between PSO and PNSC due to which shortage of petrol is likely to be emerged throughout the country during the month of Ramadan. None of the lawmakers spoke on it while the State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources spoke on it for seven minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.

• A privilege motion of PPPP lawmaker regarding announcement of Local Government election schedule in Islamabad Capital Territory despite pending of relevant bill in the Senate standing committee was considered and forwarded to the relevant committee.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
•  Information on senators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.