ISLAMABAD, June 7, 2017: The Chairman Senate on Wednesday announced to accept withdrawal of Senator Nehal Hashmi’s resignation and the House debated disappearance of retired army officer in Nepal, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The Chairman Senate gave his ruling about resignation of Senator Nehal Hashmi. He announced to accept withdrawal of his resignation and directed the Secretariat to inform the Leader of the House, his appointee in the Senate and Leader of Parliamentary Party PML-N about it.

The Chairman Senate also informed the House about discussion on the Budget 2017-18 by lawmakers for 11 hours and three minutes till June 6, 2017.

Following are key observations of the proceedings of 9^th sitting of 263^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for two hours and 14 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1102 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House was present for an hour and 16 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 43 minutes.
• Parliamentary leaders of PML-F, BNP-M, PkMAP, PML-N, MQM and NP attended the sitting.
• Fifteen Senators (14% of the total membership) were present at the outset and 23 (22%) at the end of sitting.
• Three minority lawmakers also attended the sitting.

Output

• Chairman Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage presented report on the Right of Access to Information Bill, 2017.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presented report on the Illegal Dispossession (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A female Senator took part in the debate on the Finance Bill 2017, consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings.
• Seven lawmakers discussed an AM for 39 minutes which was regarding the disappearance of Col. (R) Habib,  resident  of  Rawalpindi in the hands of the Indian forces on his visit to Nepal. Minister for SAFRON concluded debate on it during his seven-minute speech.
• An AM sponsored by MQM lawmaker was not admitted for discussion which was regarding implications of the statement made by the External Affairs Minister of India that legally Pakistan cannot take the Kashmir issue in the International Court of Justice.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs). The first CAN was about alleged embezzlement of Rs.134 billion by National and International Gas Companies while other was regarding the rustication of students belonging to Sindh and Balochistan by the administration of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
• The House passed three motions under Rule 194 (1) to extend the presentation period of three reports of Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of the lawmakers as well as the Daily Journal of the Proceedings are available on the website.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted