ISLAMABAD, July 27, 2020: The Senate addressed most of its agenda on the third Private Members’ Day of 300^th session and witnessed introduction of four private members’ bills, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the seventh sitting of the 300^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for three hours and 43 minutes.
• The sitting started at 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 entire sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 16 lawmakers (15%) were present at the outset and nine (8%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, MQM, JI, PkMAP and PPPP attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Sponsored by a JI lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution lauding the struggle and sacrifices of Syed Ali Shah Gilani for the right of self-determination of the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
• Four private members’ bills were referred to the relevant committees after their introduction in the House. These bills were the National Commission on Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Federal Board of Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2020.
• The House passed a motion under Rule 194 (1) granting 60 days extension to Standing Committee on Power for presentation of report about exact figures of circular debt.
• Chairperson Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented reports of the Committee on privilege motions of PML-N lawmakers against the ambassadors and other concerned officers posted in Pakistan Missions at Doha and Paris and the Secretary Ministry of Communications.
• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Interior, a member of the Committee presented reports on the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and on a point of public importance regarding relief package for business especially hotels and restaurants.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Commerce presented reports on a starred question regarding the names and designations of the officers of the Ministry of Commerce who went abroad on official visits since July, 2015 and on a point of public importance regarding performance of Commercial Counsellors posted in Embassies.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented reports on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020] (Amendment of Articles 213 and 215) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020] (Amendment of Article 213).
• Another resolution about declaring Friday as weekly public holiday in the country was kept pending.
• The House rejected the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Two other bills including the Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill, 2020 and the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were referred back to the committee for few amendments after consent of the mover.
• Another bill – the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020] (Amendment of Article 45) – was deferred.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three lawmakers spoke on points of public importance for 10 minutes.
• The House debated three motions under Rule 218 which were about US-Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan, establishment of a Constitutional Court and the options for enhancing current setup of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and increase of circular debt beyond Rs. 1660 Billion. Twelve lawmakers participated in debate on these motions while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Power responded to them.

Order and Institutionalization

• The House was adjourned to meet again on July 29, 2020 (Wednesday) at 1030 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