ISLAMABAD, March 10, 2016: The Senate considered its entire business during 9^th sitting of 126^th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for two hours and 28 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Deputy Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
•  Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 13 minutes.
• The Opposition Leader was not present.
• Twelve (11%) senators were present at the start and 36 (35%) at the time of adjournment.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, ANP, PPPP, MQM, JUI-F, PML-N and NP were present.
• None of the minority members attending the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice regarding the approval  of a summary by the Prime Minister whereby the posts of LDC,UDC and Assistant have been upgraded while the ex-cadre posts of proof readers, copy holders and comparers have been ignored.
• Another CAN about Annual Report of Transparency International and the status of Pakistan was deferred on the request of its sponsor.
• The House discussed a motion under Rule 60 regarding construction of high-rise buildings in Sector E-11, Islamabad without obtaining NOC/permission from CDA. Six lawmakers and State Minister for CADD spoke on it for 30 minutes.
• All fourteen starred questions appearing on the agenda were answered by the relevant departments while the Senators also raised 35 supplementary questions.
• Three motions under Rule 194 (1) were passed which were about seeking extension in presentation period of reports on amount spent by ERRA in quake-hit areas, demands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and representation of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA in the board of functional Members and Governing Council of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
• A motion under Rule 196 (1) was passed by the House with majority vote to consider and adopt the report of the Special Committee about monitoring the implementation of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Bill, 2015. Six lawmakers and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources discussed it for 29 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• Entire Opposition staged walkout for four minutes against unsatisfactory reply by State Minister for CADD regarding construction of high-rise buildings in Sector E-11, Islamabad.

 Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted