ISLAMABAD, April 22, 2014: The Senate passed a government bill while referring another to the standing committee during 7^th sitting of the 103^rd session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology introduced the Surveying and Mapping Bill, 2014 and moved that the bill be passed. Two lawmakers belonging to ANP and PPPP objected to the bill arguing that Gilgit Baltistan has been excluded from the purview of the bill. However, they withdrew their objections on the request of the minister and the bill was later passed. A PPPP lawmaker walked out from the House for two minutes against immediate passage of the bill without giving members enough time to read the text of the bill.

Another bill The Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was sent to the relevant standing committee after the parliamentary leader of PPPP opposed it. The Chairman Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented the report of the Committee for the period between June, 2012 and January, 2014.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding the construction of controversial zigzag link road from Benazir Bhutto Airport to the twin cities with an estimated cost of Rs.15 billion.

The House also took up nine of 25 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the departments of Petroleum, Housing and Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to these questions. The senators asked 33 supplementary questions as well.

The entire opposition staged three-minute walk out against the acts of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thirteen lawmakers spoke on fourteen points of order consuming 34 minutes of the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 11 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1654 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours with a delay of 54 minutes.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting as the Chairman was absent.
• Nineteen senators were present at the outset, 31 at adjournment while a maximum of 47 at one point during the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leader of PML-N, PPPP, JUI-F, PkMAP, PML, PML-F and ANP attended the sitting.

• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• A minority member was also present.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• The Federal Minister for Science and Technology introduced the Surveying and Mapping Bill, 2014 and moved that the bill be passed. Two lawmakers belonging to ANP and PPPP objected to the bill arguing that the Gilgit Baltistan was excluded from the purview of the bill. However, they withdrew their objections on the request of the minister and the bill was passed.
• Another bill The Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was sent to the relevant committee after the PPPP parliamentary leader opposed it.
• The Chairman Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented the report of the Committee for the period between June, 2012 and January, 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a calling attention notice regarding the construction of controversial zigzag link road from Benazir Bhutto Airport to the twin cities with an estimated cost of Rs.15 billion.
• The House also took up nine of 25 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the departments of Petroleum, Housing and Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs responded to these questions. The senators also asked 33 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• A PPPP lawmaker walked out from the House for two minutes against immediate passage of the bill without giving members enough time to read the text of the bill.
• The entire opposition also staged three-minute walk out against the acts of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thirteen lawmakers spoke on fourteen points of order consuming 34 minutes of 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.