ISLAMABAD, December 13, 2013: The eighth sitting of Senate’s 99^th session was marked by low attendance with 16 lawmakers present at the start and 58 at the end of the proceedings, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the House.

The Chairman presided over the sitting that lasted an hour and 25 minutes. Leader of the House was present while the Leader of the Opposition was absent. The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, MQM, ANP and PML-F attended the sitting.

Four out of six Starred Questions on the Orders of the Day were taken up and answered. The questions were addressed to the Ministries of Health, Overseas Pakistanis, Communications, and Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education.

The House took up a calling attention notice moved by a female PPPP senator regarding the involvement of Islamabad Police personnel in criminal activities.

The entire opposition (except MQM) staged a five-minute token walkout over the delay in the calling of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and 25 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1116 hours against the scheduled time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 46 minutes.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting. The Deputy Chairman was also present.
• The Leader of the House was present while the Leader of the Opposition didn’t attend the sitting.
• Sixteen senators were present at the outset while maximum 58 were there at the end of the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, MQM, ANP and PML-F attended the sitting.
• Three minority senators attended the proceedings.
• Three lawmakers applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Four out of six Starred Questions – requiring both oral and written answers – were taken up. Additionally, lawmakers asked 16 supplementary questions. The questions were addressed to the Ministries of Health, Overseas Pakistanis, Communications and Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education.
• The House took up a calling attention notice moved by a female PPPP senator regarding the involvement of Islamabad Police personnel in criminal activities.

Order and Institutionalization

• Senators spoke on 15 points of order consuming 32 minutes of the proceedings.
• The entire opposition, except MQM, staged a five-minute token walkout over the delay in the calling of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on senators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.  

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