ISLAMABAD, February 28, 2014: The opposition in the Upper House of Parliament walked out of the House on the third consecutive day during fourth sitting of the 102^nd session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.

This time the issue of opposition’s walkout was not allegation of rigging or non-payment of salaries but the inefficiency of ministers and unsatisfactory replies to the members’ questions.

The Chairman also expressed displeasure over the behavior of bureaucracy and ministers towards the Parliament and its members and referred the matter of an improper response given to the question of PPPP female legislator to the privileges committee. A privilege motion of PPPP lawmaker against Foreign Office spokesperson was also sent to the relevant committee.

The House took up eleven of the 29 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Additionally, members asked 31 supplementary questions.

The Chairman Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presented the committee’s report for the period from July 4, 2012 to March 19, 2013. The House admitted the report for debate in a later sitting.

The House also passed a motion to extend the date for presentation of report of the Special Committee on the issue of non compensation of decree holders of land acquired for AFV Ranges in Nowshera.

The minister of state for parliamentary affairs replied to a calling attention notice, sponsored by two female lawmakers of PPPP, regarding renewal of contracts of medical staff working in the Federal General Hospital and Federal Medical and Dental College, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad. The Chair referred the matter to the relevant committee and sought report within a week.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and 42 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1110 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours with a delay of 40 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was not present.
• Seventeen senators were present at the outset and 35 at the adjournment while a maximum of 39 at one point during the proceedings.

• The Leader of the House came fifteen minutes late while the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and BNP-A attended the sitting.
• A minority member attended the sitting.
• Nine members applied for leave.

Output

• The Chairman Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presented the report of the committee for the period from July 4, 2012 to March 19, 2013. The House admitted the report for debate in a later sitting.
• The House also passed a motion to extend the date for presentation of report of the Special Committee on the issue of non compensation of decree holders of land acquired for AFV Ranges in Nowshera.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The minister of state for parliamentary affairs replied to a calling attention notice, sponsored by two female lawmakers of PPPP, regarding renewal of contracts of medical staff working in the Federal General Hospital and Federal Medical and Dental College, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad. The Chair referred the matter to the relevant committee and sought report within a week.
• The House took up eleven of the 29 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Additionally, members asked 31 supplementary questions.
• The Chairman expressed displeasure over the behavior of bureaucracy and ministers towards the Parliament and its members and referred the matter of an improper response given to the question asked by female legislator of PPPP to the privileges committee.
• A privilege motion of PPPP lawmaker against Foreign Office spokesperson was also sent to the relevant committee.

Order and Institutionalization

• Three members spoke on as many points of order consuming nine minutes of the proceedings.
• The opposition parties walked out of the House against inefficiency of ministers and unsatisfactory replies to the members’ questions.

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.

 

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 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 excepted.