ISLAMABAD, January 23, 2018: The Senate on Tuesday took up most of its agenda and referred two government bills to the relevant committees for further consideration, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the second sitting of 272^nd session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and 42 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for 19 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1502 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for three hours and 33 minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Chairman.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 28 minutes.
• As many as 15 (14%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 11 (10%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PPPP, PTI, JUI-F, PML, PML-F, JI, BNP-M, NP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• The House witnessed presentation of National Skills University Islamabad Bill, 2017 and the Supreme Court and High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill, 2018 which were referred to the relevant committees.
• Senate Chairman gave 38-minute ruling on operationalization of joint ownership of mineral oil and natural gas; implementation of Article 172 (3) Constitution 1973. He directed the government to devise a policy as to the extent of involvement of International Donor/Organization into the internal affairs of federation and place the same before the Parliament for approval within a period of two months. Five lawmakers also spoke on it for six minutes.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the non-functioning of Liver Transplant Center of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
• Another CAN regarding the delay in issuance of annual second quarter development fund to FATA was deferred.
• The House held discussion on the admitted adjournment motion and clubbed motion under Rule 218 regarding devaluation of rupee and present position of economy. Two lawmakers spoke on it for 14 minutes while State Minister for Finance winded up debate on it during his six minutes speech.
• The Chair rejected three adjournment motions appearing on the agenda.
• Adviser to the Prime Minister on Aviation reported on the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the second interim report of the Special Committee on the performance of PIA.
• Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division reported on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the four reports of the Senate Committees adopted by the House.
• Chairman Senate directed to summon the meeting in one month at Cabinet Division to decide about administrative control of Meteorological Office.
• Ministers for Parliamentary Affair responded on direction of Chairman Senate for a government bill to address the issue of non-implementation of the recommendations of the Committees within a period of two months.
• Minister for Law and Justice responded on the issuance of Notification by the Federal Government in terms of sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Costs of Litigation Act, 2017, raised through a public petition.
• The House took up nine out of 42 Starred Questions for answers during the Question Hour. The lawmakers asked 27 supplementary questions as well.
• Two lawmakers spoke on as many points of public importance consuming seven minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

• Two lawmakers spoke on as many points of order for three minutes.

Transparency

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

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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