ISLAMABAD, November 9, 2017: The Senate on Thursday held debate to pay tribute to national poet and philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal on eve of his 140^th birth anniversary, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 14th sitting of the Senate’s 269th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 40 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for almost 12 minutes due to a prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1507 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 43 minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Presiding officers.
• The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 43 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML, PPPP, PTI, PML-F, PkMAP and MQM attended the sitting.
• As many as nine (8% of the total membership – 104) lawmakers were present at the start and 13 (12%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Two minority legislators also attended the proceedings.

Output

• Moved by PPPP Senator, the House  adopted a resolution to express sorrow over sad demise of prominent Sindhi writer and intellectual Ibrahim Joyo.
• The House adopted Special Report of the Standing Committee on the Finance regarding the matter of non-payment of three percent regulatory duty by the regulatory agencies.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as six out of 16 Starred Questions were taken up for answers during the proceedings. In addition, the lawmakers raised 21 supplementary questions during the Question Hour.
• Attorney General briefed the House in-camera regarding the decision of the International Court of Justice to stay the execution of death sentence awarded to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
• Ten lawmakers participated in debate for 25 minutes to pay tributes to legacy of Dr. Allama Iqbal.
• Minster for Law and Justice concluded debate on an adjournment motion regarding reservation on recent census 2017. He spoke on it for 16 minutes.
• Minister for National Health Services responded to a point of public importance regarding termination of services to 88 employees of National TB Program.
• The House granted extension of 25 working days to Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges for presentation of its report on a privilege motion against Chairman CDA.
• A lawmaker discussed the role of state institutions in the scheme of trichotomy of power for eight minutes.
• The House took up a Calling regarding migration of about 70,000 people of Hazara Community of Balochistan to foreign countries due to their persecution. It was responded to by the State Minister for Interior.
• Three adjournment motions on the agenda were not admitted for debate by the Chair for being in contravention with rules.
• The House did not discuss the Annual Report of the National Economic Council for the Financial Year 2015-16.
• Five lawmakers raised as many Points of Public Importance consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on the Senate website.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted