ISLAMABAD, January 30, 2012: Starting 48 minutes late, the seventh sitting of the Senate’s 90^th session was marked by low attendance of members.

Only one Senator in the 104-member upper house was present at the outset while 16 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 39 Senators were present at one point of sitting.

None of the 34 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up during Question Hour. A supplementary motion to discuss the performance of Ministry of Water and Power and KESC consumed most of the sitting time.

The Standing Committee on Commerce presented its report on the Trade and Development Organization Bill 2012. Further, an annual report of the Council of Common Interests for the year 2011-2012 was laid before the House.

The Deputy Chairman chaired the entire sitting. The Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and the parliamentary leaders of MQM, ANP, JUIF and NP attended the sitting.

JUIF Senators walked out of the House over imposition of Governor Rule in Balochistan and did not return to attend the rest of the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and 48 minutes. There was a prayer break of 40 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1648 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 48 minutes.
• The Deputy Chairman chaired the entire sitting. The Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, ANP, JUIF and NP were present whereas those of PML, BNPA and PMLF were absent.
• Only one Senator was present at the outset while 16 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 39 Senators were present at one point of sitting.

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

• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.
• Four Senators applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• None of the 34 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up during Question Hour.
• A supplementary motion was raised to discuss the performance of Ministry of Water and Power and KESC. It consumed most of the sitting time.

 

Output

• A standing committee report on the Trade and Development Organization Bill 2012 was presented by the Standing Committee on Commerce.
• An annual report of the Council of Common Interests for the year 2011-2012 was laid before the House.
• Two bills appearing on the agenda were not taken up.

 

Order and Institutionalization

• Seven points of order consumed 20 minutes of the sitting time.
• JUIF Senators walked out of the House over imposition of Governor Rule in Balochistan 90 minutes before the adjournment of sitting and did not return.

 

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to 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