• Session prorogued

ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2021: The Senate passed three government bills on Friday which were considered in the House as supplementary business amid protest of the opposition lawmakers, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in the Daily Factsheet.

 Following are key observations of the House proceedings during fourth sitting of 313rd session:

 Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 56 minutes.
• The sitting started at 10:04 am against the scheduled time of 10:00 am.
• The chairman presided over the proceedings for an hour and 56 minutes, while the remaining sitting was chaired by the deputy chairman.
• The leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and 23 minutes.
• The leader of the opposition was not present.
• As many as 24 lawmakers (24 percent) were present at the outset and 15 (15 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PML, BAP, and JI attended the sitting.
• Three out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Defence, a member of the Committee presented a report on the Maritime Security Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• The House passed the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with majority vote after rejecting amendments on it. A total of 43 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill and 33 opposed it.
• Moved by Minister for energy, the House passed the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs moved the supplementary legislative agenda including the Federal Medical Teaching Institutes Act, 2021 and the National Institute of Health Reorganization Bill, 2021. A total of 39 lawmakers voted in favor of motion to move the former bill, while 35 opposed it. Later, the House passed both bills amid protest of the opposition lawmakers.
• Moved by a BAP lawmaker, the House passed the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which was also considered in the House as supplementary business.
• Tabled by Parliamentary Leader of PML-N, the House adopted a resolution to express condolence on the death of former President Mamnoon Hussain.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed two motions under Rule 194 (1) granting extension for presentation of report on the Right of Access to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• The House passed another motion under Rule 126 (7) for consideration of the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in joint sitting of Parliament.
• The House took up all six out starred questions, while lawmakers also asked nine supplementary questions.
• Minister of State for parliamentary affairs responded to two calling attention notices regarding fake CNICs issued by NADRA and law and order situation in the country particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• The House did not initiate debate on motion of thanks to the President for his address to Parliament.
• Six lawmakers including the leader of the house spoke on points of public importance for 16 minutes regarding political issues, annual budget of Balochistan Assembly and business of the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five lawmakers spoke on points of order for 17 minutes related to house business and political matters.
• Lawmakers belonging to the opposition protested for eight minutes during the proceedings against the consideration of supplementary business and hasty legislation. Later, they walked out from the House on the same issue for six minutes.
• The Session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

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