ISLAMABAD, August 25, 2020: The Senate transacted its entire agenda on Tuesday and rejected two government bills which were passed by the National Assembly yesterday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the seventh sitting of 302^nd session:

  Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 42 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1623 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire proceedings.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 31 minutes.
• The Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 20 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 18 lawmakers (17%) were present at the outset and 51 (49%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PkMAP, PPPP, PTI, BNP-M and JUI-F attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• The House rejected two government bills which included the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020 and the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020. Both bills were passed by the National Assembly yesterday.
• Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs moved a motion under Rule 263 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 that the requirement of Rule 120 of the said Rules regarding notice period, be dispensed with in order to take into consideration two government bills. However, the opposition lawmakers opposed the motion and the Chairman used his power under Rule 120 and put both bills for immediate consideration in the House.  Earlier, 17 lawmakers and Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs spoke on this motion for an hour and 53 minutes.
• The House passed a motion under Rule 263 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 that the requirement of Rule 41 of the said Rules regarding question hour be dispensed with for August 25, 2020.
• The House passed 17 motions under Rule 194 (1) granting 30-day extension to six Standing Committees for presentation of their reports on various issues referred to them.
• On behalf of Chairperson Standing Committee on Climate Change, a member of the Committee presented report of the Committee on the Pakistan Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Chairperson Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination presented two reports of the Committee on a Point of Public Importance regarding implementation of the concepts of virtual hospitals and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Petroleum presented reports of the Committee on two Points of Public Importance regarding distribution of natural gas amongst the provinces and supply of gas to Mastung, Khaddi Kocha, Mangochar and Kalat. He also presented report of the Committee on a Calling Attention Notice regarding shortage of gas in the country.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for 18 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The opposition staged walkout of the House for 38 minutes against excluding questions from `Orders of the Day’.
• A PPPP lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1632 hours following which the Chair ordered the bells to be rung. The quorum remained incomplete till 1653 hours and sitting was suspended for 17 minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on August 26, 2020 at 1730 hours.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

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