ISLAMABAD, January 6, 2020: The Senate referred seven Private Members’ bills to the relevant committees and adopted four resolutions on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fourth sitting of the 295^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for five hours and four minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 18 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for an hour and eight minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel of Presiding Officers.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 31 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and two minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 19 lawmakers (18%) were present at the outset and 14 (13%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of NP, BAP, PML-N, BNP-M, PTI, PML-F, MQM, ANP and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• As many as three out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Seven Private Members’ bills were introduced in the House which were the Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill, 2019; the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Dyslexia Special Measures Bill, 2019; the Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or under Custodial Investigation Bill, 2019 and the National Highways Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
• Three bills seeking amendments in Articles 45, 198 and 213 of the Constitution were deferred on the mover’s request.
• The Chair deferred the Pakistan Climate Change (Amendment) Bill, 2019 after being opposed by the Minister of State for Climate Change.
• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, a member of the committee presented report of the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Bill, 2019.
• A Motion under Rule 126 (7) was deferred on the request of mover which was about consideration of the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2019 in the joint sitting.
• The House adopted four resolutions recommending the government to promote business activities; launch training programs to develop various skills among women; take steps for increasing Pakistan’s share of value added exports to the European Union countries and exempt government employees appointed on disabled persons’ quota from payment of income tax.
• A resolution to withdraw recent ten percent increase in toll tax on Motorways was deferred on the request of the mover.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Foreign Affairs gave a policy statement about situation in Middle East and spoke for 47 minutes. Five other lawmakers including the Leader of the Opposition also spoke on it for 22 minutes.
• As many as three lawmakers debated a Motion under Rule 218 for eight minutes which was about present status of implementation of Trade Agreements between India and Pakistan (1949), especially in view of the current relations of both countries. Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment concluded debate on it and spoke for three minutes.
• Another Motion under Rule 218 about need to review the amendments made till date to the Constitution of Pakistan in view of evolving needs of the Federation was discussed for an hour and 30 minutes by the as many as 15 lawmakers. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs concluded debate on it and spoke for four minutes.
• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs also winded up debate on a motion regarding increase in road accidents on National Highways in Balochistan. Earlier, six lawmakers spoke on it for four minutes.
• The Chair deferred two other motions under Rule 218 on the request of relevant ministers.

Order and Institutionalization

• Thirteen lawmakers spoke on points of order for 29 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on January 7, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1500 hours.

Transparency

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

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