ISLAMABAD, August 30, 2013: Senate’s 97^th session was prorogued on Friday as the Upper House concluded debate on the presidential address to the parliament.

Five members shared their views in the 90-minute debate on the presidential address during the tenth sitting. Two PPPP Senators and a Senator each from ANP, PMLN and JUIF took part in the debate.

The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition as well as the parliamentary leaders of PMLN, PPPP, ANP, JUIF and MQM attended the sitting.

The ANP along with the entire opposition staged a five-minute token walkout to protest a missing BNPA leader and the delay by the police to register an FIR on the death of an ANP leader’s cousin.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Upper House met for an hour and 56 minutes.
• The sitting starting at 1040 witnessing a delay of 40 minute against the scheduled start time of 1000 hours.
• Six Senators were present at the start of the proceedings, 50 at the end and a maximum 55 Senators at a point during the sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition attended the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PMLN, PPPP, ANP, JUIF and MQM attended the sitting.
• Three Senators applied for leave.
• Two minority Senators were present.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Question Hour was not held to hold debate on the presidential address.
• Five members shared their views in the 90-minute debate on the presidential address during the tenth sitting. Two PPPP Senators and a Senator each from ANP, PMLN and JUIF took part in the debate.
• Also on the agenda, a motion on irregularities in PIA, was deferred.

Order and Institutionalization

• Senators spoke on 10 points of order consuming 20 minutes.
• The ANP – backed by the entire opposition – staged a five-minute token walkout to protest a missing BNPA leader and the delay by the police to register an FIR on the death of an ANP leader’s cousin.

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.  

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI); a member organization of FAFEN