Senate Discusses Economic Situation, Gilgit-Baltistan Elections

Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, January 18, 2021: The Senate on Monday discussed economic situation of the country and recently held elections in Gilgit-Baltistan,  observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and one minute.
• The sitting started at 1509 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the proceedings for two hours while the remaining sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel Chairpersons.
• The Deputy Chairman attended the initial sitting for an hour and 40 minutes.
• The Leaders of the House and the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of JI, PPPP, MMAP, PKMAP and MQM attended the sitting.
• As many as 29 members (28% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 18 members (17%) at the end of sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Six lawmakers spoke on two clubbed motions under Rule 218 for an hour and 23 minutes which were regarding recently held elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and economic situation of the country. Advisors to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Division winded up debate on these motions and consumed an hour and three minutes of the proceedings.
• Eight lawmakers including Deputy Chairman Senate, Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability and Minister for Industries & Production spoke on Broadsheet case and role of NAB in accountability process for an hour 15 minutes.
• The House unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the illegal detention of Kashmiri leaders including Yaseen Malik and Asiya Andrabi and demanded their immediate release.

Order and Institutionalization

• The Session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.

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