ISLAMABAD, January 3, 2014: The Senate debated the current political and security situation in the country as low attendance of lawmakers was observed during the first sitting of its 100^th session, on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the House.

Only 13 senators were present at the outset and a maximum 31 members at the adjournment of the proceedings. The Leader of the House attended the sitting however his counterpart the Leader of the Opposition was absent.

A single ANP lawmaker spoke for 28 minutes on the Motion under Rule 218 about the current political and security situation in the country with particular reference to Balochistan, FATA and Rawalpindi incident. The motion has been debated in two sittings of the previous session as well.

Three out of eight Starred Questions on the agenda were taken up while lawmakers asked an additional 17 supplementary questions. The questions were posed at the Ministries of Information Technology and Telecommunication; National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination; and Communications.  A female PPPP lawmaker moved a privilege motion against the ambassador of Pakistan in Jaddah, Saudi Arabia which was referred to the concerned committee.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

 

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for one hours and 27 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1105 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 35 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was absent.
• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting whereas the Leader of the Opposition was absent.
• Thirteen senators were present at the outset and a maximum 31 members were there at the adjournment of the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, ANP, MQM, BNP-A and PML attended the sitting.
• The single member of PkMAP was also present.
• One minority senator attended the proceedings.
• Four members applied for leave.
• The relevant ministers for the Question Hour of Ministries of Information Technology and Telecommunication and National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination were present while the Minister for Communications was absent.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Only a single senator of ANP shared his views for 28 minutes on a commenced Motion under Rule 218 on the current political and security situation in the country with particular reference to Balochistan, FATA and Rawalpindi incident.
• Three out of eight Starred Questions – requiring both oral and written answers – on the Orders of the Day were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions. The questions on the agenda were addressed to the Ministries of Information Technology and Telecommunication; National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination; and Communications. As movers of some questions on the agenda were not present the question was not taken up.
• A privilege motion was moved by a female PPPP lawmaker against the ambassador of Pakistan in Jaddah, Saudi Arabia. The matter was referred to the concerned committee.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Senators spoke on six points of order consuming 12 minutes of the proceedings. 

• No protest, boycott or walkout was recorded during the proceedings. 

 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