• House of Federation Observes Constitution Day

ISLAMABAD, April 10, 2017: The Senate deferred one-fifth of Private Members’ business on Monday due to the ministerial absence and observed the Constitution Day as well, observes Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

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

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 30 minutes.
• The sitting started 15 minutes behind the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was also present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 34 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Thirty-two members (31%) were present at the outset and 17 (16%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The Parliamentary leaders of BNP-A, BNP-M, PkMAP, PTI, PML-F, PPPP, MQM and PML attended the sitting.
• Three minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• A PTI lawmaker introduced four bills, including the Defamation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the Islamabad Capital Territory Shops, Business and Industrial Establishments (Security) (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the National Health Care Bill, 2017 and the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The House referred all the bills to relevant standing committees.
• The Chair informed the lawmakers that the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Insertion of new Sections 320A and 337JJ), the Islamabad Restriction on Employment of Children Bill, 2016, the Islamabad Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Section 364A), the Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2016 and the Smuggling of Migrants Bill, 2016 have been withdrawn from the committees under Rule 166 (3) and the concerned lawmakers may move motion for their consideration or further deliberations under Rule 100.
• The House was informed that the recommendations of standing committees on the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Sections 292, 293 and 294), the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2017, 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) have been received.
• The House adopted three resolutions urging the government to promote wind energy, appoint a minister for Ministry of Textile Industry and implement the provision of clause (3) of Article 172 of the Constitution. One resolution was dropped due to absence of the mover while another resolution was deferred.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House held discussion on the Constitution Day. Twelve Senators took part in it consuming an hour and 12 minutes.
• Nine Senators participated in the discussion on a motion under Rule 218 regarding performance of National Highway Authority. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs concluded the discussion.
• Three lawmakers took part in discussion on a motion under Rule 218 regarding industrial growth in the country.
• The House deferred two motions under Rule 218 due to absence of the ministers and dropped another due to absence of the mover.
• Ministers for Law, Foreign Affairs and Information Technology responded to the Points of Public Importance raised by lawmakers during previous sittings.

Order and Institutionalization 

• The lawmakers spoke on 12 Points of Public Importance consuming 36 minutes of the proceedings.
• The Chair directed the Leader of the House to ensure the ministerial attendance during the sittings.

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.