ISLAMABAD, August 18, 2020: The Senate passed two more bills on Tuesday related to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and adopted a resolution to express sorrow on demise of former Senator Muhammad Afzal Lone, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the third sitting of 302^nd session:

  Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for an hour and 57 minutes. However, the proceedings remained suspended for 38 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1821 hours against the scheduled time of 1800 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire proceedings.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 51 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 42 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 22 lawmakers (21%) were present at the outset and 26 (25%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, JI and PTI attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Moved by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust Bill, 2020 as reported by Senate Standing Committee on Interior.
• The House passed the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2020 as reported by the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control. The bill was moved by the Minister for Narcotics Control.
• Tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, the House adopted a supplementary resolution to express condolence on the demise of ex-Senator and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Muhammad Afzal Lone.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Railways presented report of the Committee on a Point of Public Importance regarding payment of amount of compensation to the injured and dead in the train accident of Tezgam Express on October 31, 2019.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented reports of the Committee on the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020] (Insertion of new Article 25B).
• The House passed four motions under Rule 194 (1) granting extension of 60 days to Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs and Functional Committee on Human Rights for presentations of their two reports each on matters referred to them.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up five out of 10 starred questions while lawmakers also asked 12 supplementary questions.
• Three lawmakers including the Leader of the House spoke on points of public importance for five minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The House was adjourned to meet again on August 19, 2020 (Wednesday) at 1700 hours.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

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