ISLAMABAD, January 31, 2022: The Senate referred three private members’ bills to relevant committees and adopted as many resolutions on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the 12th sitting of 317th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 57 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 14 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 03:30 pm.
• The chairman presided over the entire proceedings.
• The deputy chairman was also present.
• The leaders of the house and the opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister was not present.
• As many as 24 lawmakers (25%) were present at the outset and 26 (31%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, JI, PkMAP, NP, ANP, PML and BAP attended the sitting.
• Three out of four minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• The House witnessed introduction of three private members’ bills which were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration. These bills were the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022] (Amendment of Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 175A, 198, and 218); the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
• Three bills were deferred due to the absence of relevant lawmakers which were the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022] (Amendment of Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 154, 175A, 198 and 218); the Provincial Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022 .
• The House adopted three resolutions recommending the government to appoint members of Parliament accredited by the foreign governments as Honorary Consul General of particular country in Pakistan, run passenger and freight trains between Quetta and Zahidan and protect the parliamentary form of government as envisaged in the Constitution, 1973.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twelve lawmakers discussed two motions under rule 218 for an hour and 50 minutes which were regarding the performance of Cyber Crime wing of FIA and the alarming rise in unemployment across the country. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs concluded the debate on both motions.
• The House did not consider another motion under rule 218 due to absence of relevant lawmaker.
• The House passed two motions authorizing the chairman senate to appoint members in climate and education caucuses.
• Eleven lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for 49 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 10:30 am.

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