ISLAMABAD, May 02, 2013: The 93^rd session of Senate was prorogued after the first sitting which met for three hours and 28 minutes on Thursday.

Only eight Senators were present at the outset while 14 were there at the time of adjournment.

The house discussed the law and order situation in the country as the issue was raised by an MQM Senator on a motion under rule 263. Eleven Senators debated the situation for two hours and 18 minutes.

Two reports on the privilege motions were presented by the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges. One was about the non-cooperative behavior of Managing Director of Pakistan Security Printing Corporation while the other was about insulting behavior of Chief Executive officer of SEPCO – Sukkur Electric Power Company.

The Chairman chaired the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of only ANP and MQM attended the sitting whereas those of NP, JUIF, PML, BNPA, and PMLF were absent.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and 28 minutes. There was a 30-minute prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1734 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1700 hours, witnessing a delay of 34 minutes.
• The Chairman chaired the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of only ANP and MQM attended the sitting while those of NP, JUIF, PML, BNPA, and PMLF were absent.
• Only eight Senators were present at the outset while 14 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 32 Senators were present at one point of sitting.
• One of the four minority Senators attended the sitting.
• Twelve Senators applied for leave.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• A motion under rule 263 about law and order situation in the country was raised and discussed. Eleven Senators debated the situation for two hours and 18 minutes. It was tabled by an MQM lawmaker.

 Output

• The Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented two reports about the privilege motions before the house. These were regarding the behaviors of Managing Director of Pakistan Security Printing Corporation and the Chief Executive Officer of Sukkur Electric Power Company.

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine points of order consumed 35 minutes of the sitting time. None of the points of order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.

• The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the legislators.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on senators’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

 The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a member organization of FAFEN