Opposition stages walkout against PMDC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014

ISLAMABAD, April 15, 2014: The federal government laid the National Security Policy, a money bill and an ordinance before the Upper House during 2^nd sitting of 103^rd session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights laid the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014. The ordinance was promulgated to dissolve the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Senate Chairman and four other lawmakers expressed their views on it for 25 minutes. Later, the opposition parties staged a walkout against the ordinance arguing that the matter was not taken up in the Council of Common Interests. The sitting was later adjourned.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the House presented the National Security Policy to the Senate.

On behalf of the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, the Minister for Science and Technology introduced a Money Bill, the Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to the House and moved that the Senate may make recommendations to the National Assembly.

The House took up nine of 30 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The senators also asked 30 supplementary questions.

The lawmakers belonging to ANP also staged a five-minute walkout against kidnaping of party workers in Karachi. Thirteen legislators spoke during Prime Minister’s Zero Hour.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and 53 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1636 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours with a delay of 36 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was also present.
• Nineteen senators were present at the outset, 38 at adjournment while a maximum of 48 at one point during the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leader of PPPP, PkMAP and NP attended the sitting.
• Four minority members attended the sitting.
• Three members applied for leave.

• The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was there for 43 minutes.
  

Output

• The Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights laid before the Senate the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.
• The Leader of the House presented to the Senate National Security Policy of the government.
• On behalf of the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, the Minister for Science and Technology introduced a Money Bill, the Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to the House and moved that the Senate may make recommendations on it to the National Assembly.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up nine of 30 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The senators asked 30 supplementary questions as well.
• Thirteen legislators spoke during Prime Minister’s Zero Hour.

Order and Institutionalization

• The opposition parties staged a walkout against the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 arguing that the matter was not taken up in the Council of Common Interests. The sitting was adjourned right after the walkout.
• The lawmakers belonging to ANP also staged a five-minute walk out against the kidnaping of party workers in Karachi.

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.