ISLAMABAD, April 26, 2019: The Senate took up the entire agenda, including the debate on an adjournment motion relating to the excessive use and sale of antibiotics at medical stores causing life threats, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Friday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during second sitting of 288^th session:

 Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1030 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House was present for two hours and 18 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 43 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 16 lawmakers (15%) were present at the outset and 24 (23%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PTI, BNP, ANP and PkMAP attended the sitting.
• Two out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Chairman Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas presented the report of the Committee regarding its visit to Chitral, Kalash and Peshawar from October 19 to October 22, 2018.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding reallocation of Rs. 24 billion out of Rs. 27 billion under the head of special initiatives of CPEC to other programs.
• Another CAN regarding provision of Halal certificate on the imported goods was dropped due to the absence of its mover.
• The House took up 15 out of 25 Starred Questions, while the remaining questions were not taken up due to the movers’ absence. The lawmakers also asked 24 supplementary questions.
• Four lawmakers debated an adjournment motion for 29 minutes relating to the excessive use and sale of antibiotics at medical stores causing life threats. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs concluded the debate in seven minutes.
• Eight lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance for 11 minutes.

 Order and Institutionalization 

• Two lawmakers, including the Leader of the House, spoke on as many Points of Order (POs) for 26 minutes. The POs were related to the ministerial absence in the House to respond to the parliamentary interventions and the composition of the incumbent Cabinet.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on April 29, 2019 (Monday) at 1500 hours.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.

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