FAFEN Holds Media Sensitization Workshops on Data Journalism

Daily Wednesday May 21, 2014 Vol: FN-002/14, Issue NO. 97

FROM FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO AN OPEN AND EFFECTIVE PARLIAMENT t National Assembly’s Standing Committees on Water & Power, Information Technology & Telecommunication and Sub- The Senate Standing Committees on Law & Justice and Cabinet Committee-II of the Public Accounts Committee are meeting today Secretariat are meeting today at Parliament House, Islamabad. at Parliament House, Islamabad.

ASSEMBLIES IN SESSION Profile FAFEN holds media Ms. Shahjehan Total Time Met Maximum Members Present Member National Assembly Senate 2 Hours 25 Minutes 39 sensitization workshops Punjab Assembly 1 Hour 48 Minutes 102 Balochistan Assembly 1 Hour 13 Minutes 42 on data journalism 505 Pakistanis in Afghan, Syed Abdul Ahad The Parliament Watch and Re- Malaysian jails: MoFA forms Project (PWRP) of the Free and Fair Election Network Our Correspondent as per Malaysian Prison De- ters. During visit to immi- partment, there are around gration detention centers, (FAFEN) has carried out work- ISLAMABAD: The Ministry 320 Pakistani detainees in the detainees were provided shops in Islamabad and all the of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Ms. Shahjehan is politi- the Malaysian prisons and telephone facility to commu- four provincial capitals to sen- has informed the Nation- cally affiliated to PML-N detention centers, out of nicate with their relatives sitize media about the impor- al Assembly that presently and elected to the 14th tance of data journalism in the which 102 are under re- and prison detainees mes- there are 185 Pakistanis im- National Assembly on re- mand while the remaining modern day society. These work- prisoned in Afghanistan and sages were also recorded have already been convicted. served women seat. Cur- shops have been conducted be- 320 in Malaysian jails. and subsequently conveyed The ministry said there were rently, she is the member tween May 1 and May 14, 2014. Replying to a question to their families. some detainees who were ar- of Standing Committees To achieve this objective, the of PML-N lawmaker Nighat The ministry further rested as a result of cleanup on Petroleum and Natural civil society and the Pakistani The Media Sensitization Workshop held at National Press Club Islamabad. Parveen during sixth sitting stated that most of the de- media had joined hands to make operation, however, major tainees in detention centers Resources and Communi- of the country, which were largely attended by the parliamentary of the 11th session, the min- concerted efforts for a transparent, accountable and accessible Par- portion of detainees were ar- did not possess copies of cation. reporters covering the legislative houses. The media sensitization istry stated Pakistani pris- liament as a prerequisite for responsive legislative governance and CNIC and passports which workshop in Peshawar was chaired by the Chairperson of Trust for oners have been detained consolidation of democracy in the country. are essentially required for Parliamentary Democratic Education and Accountability TDEA/FAFEN Mr. Zaheer in nine different jails of Af- FAFEN observes the Senate, National Assembly and the four Khattak on May 6, 2014. He apprised the parliamentary reporters ghanistan. Of total detained issuance of first travel doc- Information provincial assemblies under the PWRP project, and gather objective about the aims and goals of FAFEN and emphasized the need for prisoners, 183 were arrest- uments and all possible as- data on the performance of the legislatures and the members in an Zimbabwean data journalism in the modern world. ed on charges of spying, sistance is being extended effort to push for reforms that are essential to strengthen the Par- A similar workshop was conducted in Lahore on May 8, 2014, narcotics, Taliban suspect, to the Pakistanis detained Parliament: liamentary supremacy in Pakistan as enshrined in the Constitution. which was attended by the reporters covering Punjab Assembly, who forgery and robbery, while NATIONAL ASSEMBLY in Immigration Detention The Parliament of Zimba- Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the National talked about the hurdles they are facing while reporting the pro- two others were arrested on Centers/Prisons. In order bwe consists of two cham- Press Club (NPC), which is a representative body of all press clubs rested prior to the operation ceedings of the House. the charges of illegal entry to provide legal assistance bers: The Senate and the in Pakistan, and FAFEN, a coalition of more than 40 civil society on the basis of their alleged The fourth and fifth media sensitization workshops were ar- into Afghanistan. The minis- to the detainees, a law firm House of Assembly organizations, the two organizations held their first collaborative involvement in murder, gang ranged in Karachi and Quetta on May 12 and May 14, 2014 respec- try stated that our missions has been engaged in the workshop on media sensitization on Parliamentary reforms at Na- robbery, money laundering The Senate (Upper tively. The Karachi workshop was jointly chaired by TDEA/FAFEN in Afghanistan are in contact past and services hired on tional Press Club, Islamabad, on May 1, 2014. and human smuggling. Board of Trustees (BoT) Mr Younis Bandhani and Mr Owais Aslam, with the law enforcement retainer-ship basis for the Chamber) FAFEN representatives gave a detailed presentation on the na- The ministry said steps while the one in Quetta was presided over by BoT member Mr Nas- agencies of Afghanistan to period of six months, which The Senate of Zimbabwe ture and use of Parliamentary observation data that is available with have been taken by the mis- rullah Khan. have an update on appre- were later terminated. The is the upper chamber of the network. The presentation also included an emphasis on the sion to help the detainees, All the five workshops were largely attended by parliamentary hended Pakistani nationals Mission is now looking for the country’s bicamer- need for the use of laws that exist in Pakistan on citizens’ right to which include regular con- reporters and writers. Most of them, especially those belonging to and to have consular access other suitable firm for hir- al Parliament. It existed information as one way to access data that is currently not being sular visits to extend con- electronic media, were of the view that they don’t have time for in- with them at the earliest. ing; meanwhile, the families from 1980 to 1989, and made public by the legislators. sular assistance to detained vestigative reporting as they are overburdened with their work and Replying to another of detainees are informed to Similar workshops were arranged in all the provincial capitals Pakistanis in prisons and was re-introduced in No- have to meet certain deadlines. question, the ministry said arrange legal aid. immigration detention cen- vember 2005. The current Senate, Over 1400 nabbed in Low attendance prevails formed following elections Privilege motions being used held on 26 November 2005, has a total of 66 smuggling cases, Senate in Punjab Assembly members. 50 members (5 for personal grievances Usman Asad from each province) are informed directly elected in single Irfana Yasser ISLAMABAD: Low attendance prevailed during the 3rd sitting member constituencies of 8th session of Punjab Assembly on Tuesday that witnessed Our Correspondent using the simple majority ISLAMABAD: The members of passage of a resolution to exempt fee for issuance or renewal of ISLAMABAD: The Senate has been informed that a total of 1,404 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) As- Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). (or First-past-the-post) persons have been arrested in the cases of smuggling and among sembly are increasingly using There were 16 members at the outset in the House of 367 system. The President ap- them 855 have been penalized while 582 cases are still pending privilege motions as a tool for members and 97 at the adjournment of 3rd sitting. A maximum points 6 additional mem- in courts. settling personal complaints of 102 members were observed to be present at one point of the bers and the remaining Replying to a question of JUI-F lawmaker Muhammad Talha against police constables, offi- sitting. Tabled by the PML-N female lawmaker Shameela Aslam, 10 seats are held by tradi- Mehmood during 3rd sitting of the 104th session of the Upper cials of Education and Forest the House urged the federal government not to charge any fee tional chiefs who are cho- House, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue, departments and media per- from the citizens over issuance or renewal of CNICs. The House, sen in separate elections. Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, stated that it is not sons. however, rejected another resolution with majority tabled by the Twenty-one women (20 possible to estimate the volume of various items smuggled from According to the website of PML lawmaker Ch. Aamir Sultan Cheema for revision of pay scale a privilege motion wherein he private television channel for elected and 1 appointed) various countries to Pakistan during the last five years. However, KPK Assembly, the provincial of federal government employees. stated that two police consta- showing disrespectful material occupy seats in the Sen- a total seizure of smuggled goods, during this period is estimated lawmakers tabled 18 privilege Eight out of 28 starred questions (requiring oral answers as bles stopped him at a check- against the Deputy Speaker. It ate. to be Rs 21,523.32 million. motions in the first parlia- well) on the Orders of the Day were taken up and responded to by post and demanded to show his was also referred to the privi- Replying to another question, the minister said the main mentary year. Of these, the the ministries of Prisons and Information and Culture. Addition- The House of national identity card and the lege committee. smuggling routes are the long and porous border along with Af- members were satisfied on five ally, members asked 18 supplementary questions. The reply to motion was referred to the priv- A PPPP legislator, through a Assembly (Lower ghanistan, coastal belt in Sindh and Balochistan and Pak-Iran motions while the remaining seven answers was not received. The Deputy Speaker, Sardar Sher ilege committee. privilege motion, alleged nepo- border. To curb the menace of smuggling, he said the Customs 13 were referred to the rele- Ali Gorchani, chairing the entire proceedings ordered prompt ac- Chamber) PTI legislator Shah Fais- tism in the appointment of the Department has reinvigorated its enforcement measures which vant committees. Most of the tion against those responsible for not submitting answers to the The House of Assembly al and Mufti Fazal Ghafoor of Chairmen of Zakat committees include intelligence sharing, launching of joint operations and privilege motions referred to starred questions. of Zimbabwe is the lower provisions of support and facilitation to its authorities by the Law the committees are related to JUI-F tabled privilege motions at the district level. After mu- The House took up a privilege motion of a PML-N female law- chamber of the country’s against station house officer tual consensus between the Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). misbehavior of government of- maker Nadia Aziz against misbehavior of the Vice Chancellor of bicameral Parliament. It and district police officer of members of the treasury and The minister said specific anti-smuggling measures have ficials and media persons. Only an educational institution against her. was the unicameral leg- Hangu and SHO Daggar, Bun- the opposition benches, the been undertaken to overcome the menace of smuggling. Frontier one motion tabled by Azam The opposition recorded their protest from 1248 hours to er respectively. They also com- Chair announced setting up of a islative body from 1989 Constabulary Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been Khan Durrani is related to the 1258 hours for not getting permission to table a resolution re- plained of rude behaviour of the 10-member committee, includ- until late November 2005, entrusted to carry out anti-smuggling activities within 20 km of utilization of funds in his con- garding introduction of bio-metric vote counting system in the police officials and the motions ing the Chief Minister, to probe when the Senate was the international border, besides joint efforts between Customs stituency. province. The Chair gave a ruling to settle the matter with Provin- were referred to the commit- into the matter. re-introduced. and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and all major entry The Rules of Procedure read cial Minister of Local Government and Community Development, tee. Munawar Khan of JUI-F A JUI-F member Said Janan The sixth House of Assem- points and smuggling routes in the country are being monitored that a lawmaker may raise a Rana Sana Ullah or bring a motion on it but the opposition con- submitted a privilege motion submitted a privilege motion bly, formed following elec- by establishing check-posts operated by Pakistan Customs with question involving a breach of tinued their protest till the adjournment of the sitting. privilege of a member, speak- against alleged misbehaviour of against the misbehavior of Chief Due to this protest, two resolutions on the agenda could not tions held on 31 March the assistance of LEAs. district education officer Lakki Planning Officer, District Buner He said Pakistan Coast Guards and Pakistan Maritime Secu- er of the assembly or House be tabled. The first resolution sponsored by the opposition leader 2005, had a total of 150 committee, with the consent Marwat that too has been put who is also Assistant Director rity Agency have also been given anti-smuggling powers to check Mian Mehmud ur Rashid was regarding demands to take steps members. A total of 120 of the speaker, but it has been up before the committee. of Local Government. Three smuggling in the coastal areas and high seas. Scanners have been for protection of the journalists’ community and nab criminals members were directly witnessed that the lawmakers Lawmaker Mohammad Ali privilege motions were jointly installed at airports for scanning of the baggage of incoming pas- involved in attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir while the other elected in single member are using this rule for their own of JI from Upper Dir tabled two tabled by lawmakers regarding sengers and a comprehensive anti-smuggling strategy has been sponsored by Saadia Sohail Rana was about inclusion of agricul- constituencies using the sake. privilege motions against the the news of forward block in ture and livestock related information in the curriculum. chalked out. plurality (or First-past- The lawmakers drew atten- officers of Forest department the newspaper. The lawmaker Another resolution on the agenda sponsored by Dr. Syed Ishaq Dar said all available resources and manpower have been the-post) system. The tion of the House towards dif- and secretary Environment. of PML-N Arbab Akber Hayat Waseem Akhtar was kept pending on the demand of the mover pooled for optimum use and the Director General (Intelligence President appointed 12 ferent matters which in their A PTI lawmaker submitted a submitted a privilege motion which was about legislation to get rid of fake Aamils. Investigation) FBR has been assigned the new role to coordinate view were breach of their priv- privilege motion against a lo- regarding the rude behaviour The opposition protest led to the adjournment of the sitting additional members and anti-smuggling activities with other Law Enforcement Agencies. ilege. Javed Nasim of PTI tabled cal newspaper of Kohat and a of secretary Local Government. till May 21, 2014 (Wednesday) at 10 am. 8 provincial governors who held reserved seats in the House. The remaining Parliamentary diplomacy opening new avenues for bilateral ties 10 seats were held by tra- ditional chiefs who were Salahudin Safdar kistan on the grounds that minorities’ rights were not being protected by ry democracy through a resolution in September last year. Pakistan-Russia chosen by their peers. All the country. However, the female minority lawmaker of JUI-F Asia Nasir con- Friendship Group has also struck an agreement to enhance the economic members served five-year ISLAMABAD: The enlightened philosopher Immanuel Kant theorized that vinced the EU delegation by giving them a presentation on state of minori- cooperation and work closely in infrastructure development. terms. more the states are democratic; more are they peaceful in their foreign re- ties in Pakistan during a meeting of Pak-EU PFG. European Union is also Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group is providing cooperation to lations. The recent rise of parliamentary diplomacy between states is testa- supporting some of other PFGs in the National Assembly. Pakistan in the fields of communication, health and aviation and has set Visit ment to this proposition. The ties between parliaments are now superseding Parliamentary friendship can involve in devising the foreign policy of a up forums like parliamentary friendship group on Asbestos Related Disease the official foreign policies of the governments. state, bilateral diplomacy, which aims to strengthen cooperation with other (PGARD), Parliamentarians Against child abuse and neglect (PACAN), Par- parliamentfiles.com Despite opposition from the government of her party, the former Speaker Parliaments and thus to strengthen the ties of people. The development of liamentary friends of Early Childhood (PFEC), Parliamentary friends of Eye of the National Assembly Fehmida Mirza visited India in January 2010 to this sector contributes to the broader strengthening of relations between Health and Vision Care (PFEHVC), Parliamentary friends of Medicine and attend Commonwealth Speakers Conference amid tense atmosphere across to read Pakistan and other countries. Parliamentary friendship group plays Pivot- the National student leadership forum parliamentary group (NSLFPG). borders. The visit bore fruit and the estranged relationships came to some al Role for Enhancement of International Trade and economic activities in Moreover, the Pakistani Parliamentarians represented the country in dif- normalcy and the Pak-India Parliamentary Friendship Group was also re- the country through strengthening ties with other Parliaments of the World. ferent inter parliamentary forums including International Parliamentary As- vived. Pak-China Economic corridor project is an example of it. sembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly The award of GSP-Plus status to Pakistan by the European Union is the The Speaker National Assembly is at forefront of this whole exercise. The held in Johannesburg, South Africa, China-South Asia Peace and Develop- landmark achievement of the parliamentary diplomacy. Spain along with House, even before the formation of Standing Committees, set up Parliamen- ment Forum held in China, and 7th SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians some other textile importers had objected to the award of this status to Pa- tary Friendship Groups with 88 countries of the world having parliamenta- Conference held in Male, Maldives.