ISLAMABAD, December 21, 2015: The Senate took up its entire agenda appearing on Orders of the Day on Monday during sixth sitting of its ongoing 122^nd session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and 57 minutes while also taking a prayer-break for 15 minutes.
• The sitting started at its scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was not present.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• Federal Ministers for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage and Climate Change and State Ministers for Information Technology & Telecommunications and Parliamentary Affairs were present.
• 13 (13%) senators were present at the start and 12 (12%) at the time of adjournment.
• Parliamentary leaders of MQM, PPPP, PkMAP, PML-N, NP, JI and JUI-F were present.
• Two minority members were present.
• Six members applied for leave.

Output

• A female lawmaker belonging to PPPP introduced the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill was referred to the relevant standing committee.
• The Convener of the Special Committee on the Implementation of the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Bill, 2015 presented the report of the committee.
• The Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presented the report of the Committee on the matter raised by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed on 14th December, 2015 regarding use of some discriminatory remarks by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) against Christian minority of the country. The Chairman showed dissatisfaction over reply of the CDA and referred the matter to the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges.
• Sponsored by a PTI lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution recommending the government to establish a regular full-fledged Secretariat of the Council of Common Interests and ensure representation of all Provinces in its staff.
• The House passed another resolution, moved by JUI-F lawmaker, urging the government to revisit the system of private Hajj tour operators and evolve a fair and strict accountability system to deal with complaints against them.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House debated a Motion under Rule 218 regarding the domain and jurisdiction of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and the situation arising out of non-convening of the meeting of the Council. Ten lawmakers, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination and the Chairman discussed the matter for 53 minutes.
• Eight Senators and the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs spoke for 44 minutes on a motion regarding the hardships being faced by overseas Pakistanis due to the acts of terrorism in the western countries and the remedies to lessen these troubles.
• Eleven lawmakers express their views on a motion regarding the successes and failures of the foreign policy of the government. The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs responded to the reservations of the members. The discussion continued for 56 minutes.
• The House debated for 19 minutes a motion regarding the functioning of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR). Five members, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and the Chairman took part in the discussion.
• The House adopted the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to the Parliament. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs gave winding-up speech on the motion.
• The discussion on a motion regarding continuous decrease in exports of the country was deferred on request of the mover and concerned minister.

Order and Institutionalization

• A lawmaker belonging to MQM staged a walkout at 1823 hours against the dissatisfactory response by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs to the questions raised by lawmaker. He did not return to the House till end of the sitting.

Transparency

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

To download the factsheet, click here

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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.