ISLAMABAD, March 08, 2013: The Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS) Islamabad Bill 2013 was passed in the 13^th sitting of 91^st session of Senate, which met for four hours and 19 minutes on Friday.

The sitting was marked by low attendance. A maximum of 32 senators were present at one point of sitting whereas only nine senators were present at the start and18 at the time of adjournment.

The quorum was pointed out thrice during the sitting. In the first instance, the proceedings were suspended for 22 minutes. In the second instance, bells were rung for five minutes. The Chairman ignored the quorum when it was pointed out third time.

The House adopted the recommendations on the Rulers of Acceding States (Abolition of Privy Purses and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill 2013 as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, Planning and Development and Privatization.

The Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2013 was referred to the standing committee. A Standing Committee report on the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Bill 2013 was also presented.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• Senate met for four hours and 19 minute. There was a prayer break of an hour and 24 minutes. The Chairman suspended the proceedings for 25 minutes over the absence of a minister.
• The sitting started at 1035hours against the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of35minutes.
• The Chairman chaired the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PMLF and JUIF were present while those of PML, BNPA, ANP and NP did not attend the sitting.
• Only nine Senators were present at the start while 18 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 32 senators were present at one point of sitting.
• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.
• Two Senators applied for leave. 

Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine of the 27 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 14 supplementary questions were asked. 

Output

• The House passed the Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto medical University (PIMS) Islamabad Bill 2013.
• The Capital University of Science and Technology Bill 2013 was referred to the standing committee.
• The recommendations on the Rulers of Acceding States (Abolition of Privy Purses and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill 2013 were adopted.
• A report on the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Bill 2013 was presented by the Standing Committee on Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.

 

Order and Institutionalization

• The quorum was pointed out thrice during the sitting. In the first instance, the proceedings were suspended for 22 minutes. In the second instance, bells were rung for five minutes, while the Chairman ignored the quorum when it was pointed out third time.

 

Transparency

• Orders of the day were 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