ISLAMABAD, July 28, 2016: The Senate passed an amendment to its Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 2012 envisaging representation of the Upper House in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network.

Following this amendment, the Senate shall elect six members one from each province, the Federal Capital and FATA for representation in PAC, out of which three will be from the treasury and three from the opposition benches.

Following are some key observations of the House business:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for four hours and 19 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1502 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman chaired the sitting for three hours and 10 minutes while rest of the proceeding was presided over by the Deputy Chairman.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 13 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 45 minutes.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of BNP-M, PkMAP, PML-N, MQM, ANP, JI, PPPP, PTI, PML and JUI-F attended the sitting.
• Ten members (9% of the total membership -104) were present at the outset and 23 members (22%) at the end of the sitting.
• Two minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• The House adopted a motion to insert a new Rule 172F in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2012 to make basis for the representation of Senate in PAC.
• The House witnessed presentation of a report by Senate Standing Committee on Defence about Pak-Afghan border situation.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed three motions under Rule 194 (1) to extend the time period for presentation of two reports of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and one report of the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
• The Senate discussed the Annual Report of the National Economic Council for Financial Year 2013-14 following a motion under Rule 157 (2).
• The House also took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) regarding mismanagement in the treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) and the government policy against natural disaster threats in the country.
• The House discussed an adjournment motion regarding decision of FATA Secretariat to close down 497 schools of FATA under the rationalization plan.
• The Chair deferred an Adjournment Motion while another was rejected for not having concrete information on the issue.
• The House took up 15 out of 23 Starred Questions. In addition, lawmakers asked 34 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization 

• Twenty six Points of Public Importance consumed 87 minutes of the proceeding.
• Five Points of Order consumed five minutes of the proceeding.

Transparency

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

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.