ISLAMABAD, November 1, 2017: The Senate on Wednesday took up most of its agenda and concluded debate on the recent visit of the US Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Pakistan, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during eighth sitting of the 269^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and 41 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 14 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for three hours and 19 minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Chairman.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 45 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition remained present for 16 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, PTI, JUI-F, PkMAP, NP, PML-F, PML-N, MQM and PPPP attended the sitting.
• As many as 14 (13% of the total membership – 104) lawmakers were present at the start and 12 (11%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Two minority legislators also attended the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine out of 21 Starred Questions were taken up for answers during the proceedings. In addition, lawmakers asked 26 supplementary questions.
• An adjournment motion about passing on the impact of the inefficiency in power sector amounting to Rs. 131 billion to power consumers was withdrawn by the mover.
• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion regarding increase in the prices of petroleum products which would be debated in any of sitting in next week.
• Chairperson, Functional Committee on Human Right presented report on Plight of Rohingya Muslims along with joint resolution passed by the Committee.Minister for Foreign Affairs concluded debate on the recent visit of US Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to South Asia in wake of news US policy. He spoke for 14 minutes.
• Moved by Leader of the House, the House passed a motion Rule 204 authorizing the Chairman Senate to appoint a Special Committee to examine the Annual report of FPSC for the year 2015.
• The House resumed discussion on the Annual Report for the year 2016-2017 of the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of the Economy. Eight lawmakers spoke on it for 48 minutes.
• The House debated an adjournment motion regarding significance of the BRICS declaration with particular reference to China’s view point about Pakistan. Four lawmakers participated in discussion and spoke for 21 minutes.
• The Chair deferred a motion to discuss the Annual Report of the National Economic Council for the Financial Year 2015-16.
• The Chair announced regarding the operationalization of Committee on Ethics which may receive complaints and investigate allegations of breach of Code by the individuals against the Senators in performance of their duties as Members and to make appropriate findings of fact and conclusion with respect thereto. Sixteen lawmakers expressed their views on it for 43 minutes.
• On the request of mover, the Chair deferred a CAN regarding reported entrance of a terrorist belonging to Turkistan Islamic Movement into Pakistan.
• The House passed two motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension of 45 and 60 working days to Standing Committee on National Food Security and Special Committee on the performance of PIA for presentation of their report on a supplementary question and sale of PIA airbus to a German firm respectively.
• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding missing of three women along-with their three children belonging to District Awaran on October 30, 2017. It was responded to by the State Minister for Interior but the Chair sought elaborate answer on the issue in next sitting.
•  Four lawmakers raised as many Points of Public Importance consuming eleven minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

• The entire Opposition and PkMAP lawmakers walked out of the House for two minutes against abduction of three women and their children from District Awaran.
• An NP lawmaker along with PkMAP lawmakers walked out of the House for five minutes for expelling the Baloch students from Quaid-e-Azam University.

Transparency

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

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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