ISLAMABAD, January 31, 2013: Starting 50 minutes late, the 8^th sitting of Senate’s 90th session was marked by low attendance and walkouts. Only eights senators were present at the outset while 13 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 38 senators were present at one point of sitting.

Two walkouts were staged over law and order situation in Karachi – one jointly by the JUIF, PMLN and ANP lawmakers, and the other separately by MQM Senators. A BNPA Senators staged a walkout over Governor Rule in Balochistan and a PMLN Senator walked out over Interior Minister’s statements about minorities.

The House passed two bills – the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Pakistan Coinage (Amendment) Bill 2012. A Standing Committee report on the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Bill 2012 and an interim report of the Special Committee on Law and Order situation prevailing in district Khuzdar, Balochistan, were also presented.

The Deputy Chairman chaired the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for three hours and one minute. There was a 40-minute prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1650 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 50 minutes.
• The Deputy Chairman chaired the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, ANP and JUIF were present while those of PML, BNPA, NP and PMLF did not attend the sitting.
• Only eight senators were present at the start while 13 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 38 senators were present at one point of sitting.
• Two minority senators attended the sitting.
• Four senators applied for leave. 

 

Representation and Responsiveness

• Seven of the 24 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant minister. Additionally, 19 supplementary questions were asked.

 

Output

• Two bills – the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2012 and The Pakistan Coinage (Amendment) Bill 2012 – appearing on the agenda were passed by the House.
• A report on the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Bill 2012 was presented by the Standing Committee on Commerce.
• An interim report of the Special Committee on Law and Order situation prevailing in district Khuzdar, Balochistan, was also presented.

 

Order and Institutionalization

• Ten points of order consumed 35 minutes of the sitting time.
• Four walkouts were observed during the sitting. Two walkouts were staged over law and order situation in Karachi; one jointly by the JUIF, PMLN and ANP lawmakers while the other separately by MQM members. A BNPA lawmaker staged a walkout over Governor Rule in Balochistan, whereas a PMLN Senator staged a 15-minute walkout over Interior Minister’s statements about minorities.

 

Transparency

• Orders of the day were available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on senators’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

 

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a member organization of FAFEN