ISLAMABAD, October 28, 2014: The eighth sitting of the Senate’s 108^th session was adjourned due to lack of quorum leaving the entire agenda, except for question Hour, unaddressed, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Deputy Chairman presided over the sitting that began 44 minutes behind the schedule. As many as 21 Senators (20%) were present at the start, 16 (15%) at the adjournment and a maximum 53 (51%) during one point of the sitting. The Leader of the House, the Leader of Opposition and the parliamentary leaders of PPPP, ANP, PML, JUI-F and PkMAP attended the sitting.

The entire opposition, excluding the MQM, staged an 11-minute walkout until the adjournment of sitting when the Chair did not allow an ANP member to ask a supplementary question. Soon after, an ANP member called the missing quorum that led to the sitting’s premature adjournment.

The House did not take up two ordinances, three committee reports, a motion of thanks and a calling attention notice.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 12 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1644 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours witnessing a delay of 44 minutes.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting as the Chairman was absent.
• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Twenty-one members (20%) were present at the start, 16 (15%) at the adjournment, and a maximum of 53 (51%) at one point during the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, ANP, PML, JUI-F and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Five members applied for leave

Output

• The House did not take up two ordinances namely the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 and the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2014. Three standing committee reports, a motion of thanks on the President’s address to the Parliament and a calling attention notice (CAN) were left unaddressed.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up six out of 31 questions addressed to the Planning Commission while 31 supplementary questions were also asked.

Order and Institutionalization

• The entire opposition, excluding the MQM, staged a walkout to protest the Chair’s disallowing an ANP Senator to ask a supplementary question. The 11-minute protest lasted till the adjournment of the sitting.
• An ANP member called the missing quorum eight minutes after the opposition’s walkout. The Chair called for bells to be rung for five minutes and adjourned the sitting as quorum was found incomplete.

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  This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization; a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions excepted.