121St Session Report
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SENATE OF PAKISTAN 121st Session (November 2 to November 13, 2015) Free and Fair Election Network www.fafen.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY submit report within a month, besides determining reasons House in Washington D.C., suspension of survey in for losing the seat. earthquake-hit areas, non-payment of salary to Pakistan The return of MQM lawmakers to the House after 11 weeks, the entire 111- item agenda appeared on Orders of the Day. Steel Mills employees and concerns of a Chinese company The Senate session witnessed clarification by the debate on law and order, climate change challenges, The House addressed 84% (93) agenda items while most regarding setting up of a solar park. economic issues and ISPR's criticism on governance are the of the remaining 16% (18) interventions could not be government regarding delay in NFC and change in CPEC's main highlights of the 10-sitting 121st session of the Upper addressed due to the absence of movers or they were not route. The Finance Minister assured the House that the Six Motions under Rule 218 came for discussion comprising House, starting from Nov2 and ending on Nov13, 2015. admitted as per rules. During the previous session new NFC award will be finalized at the earliest; adding that power sector, foreign affairs and governance issues. The comprising seven sittings, only 69 agenda items appeared the extension in 7th NFC Award is not unconstitutional and House deferred two privilege motions due to the absence The Senators expressed their concerns on the China on Orders of the Day. Of these, 80% (55) were taken up will continue till a consensus is reached on new award. The of movers while 18 such motions were settled which were Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route, the price of while the rest of agenda remained unaddressed. Minister for SAFRON assured the House that the decision pending since long. imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), foreign policy of All Parties Conference on CPEC route will be An instance of pointing out the quorum was witnessed especially after Pakistan's defeat in the United Nations The agenda items of the treasury as well as the opposition implemented in letter and spirit. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) polls, relief efforts in the lawmakers were considered during the session. However, during the session by a PkMAP lawmaker following which earthquake-hit areas, ability of civil departments to cope the Question Hour was marred by the absence of ministers The House also witnessed adoption of eight resolutions. the Chair ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. with the natural disasters and appointments being made or their representatives as well as the movers. During the Two resolutions each were related to governance, However, it was found complete upon counting and the against Balochistan quota. session, the Chair once suspended the proceeding for 15 economy while one resolution each was on issues of proceeding was resumed. minutes due to the absence of relevant ministers. Only health, development project, federal employees, The session, however, did not yield much in terms of The House witnessed six walkouts and one protest, five 37% (73 of 195) of the starred questions were taken up archaeology, parliamentary privileges and tribute to the legislation as only one bill – the Anti-Money Laundering were staged by the entire Opposition while an ANP while the rest of them remained unaddressed. greatest national poet. (Amendment) Bill 2015 – was passed while a private bill – lawmaker protested by observing walk out. The walkouts the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2015 – was During first sitting of the session, Senate Chairman gave Senators spoke on 137 Matters of Public Importance were due to the non-implementation of decisions made in introduced. Two ordinances were laid and forwarded to the the ruling on acceptance or otherwise of the MQM consuming 345 minutes – 17% of the session time. A total All Parties Conference about CPEC, keeping sale price of relevant committee. Senators' resignations. The Chairman stated that the of 17 reports were presented by various Standing LNG secret and lack of permission to speak on matter of confirmation of resignations was due after completion of Committees during the reporting period. public importance. PML-N and PkMAP lawmakers protested The interest of legislators was observed to be better than 40 consecutive days of the proceeding. He said only 13 over for not taking up their questions despite being on the the previous session, as 62 lawmakers were present on The House also took up nine Calling Attention Notices consecutive days had passed till November 2, 2015. About agenda. average during the reporting period as compared to 56 (CANs) relating to unusual banking practices, irregularities non-participation of MQM members in the House legislators during the last session. during appointments in OGRA, expansion work at airport in proceedings and their lapsed agenda, the Chairman said Peshawar, postponement of OIC summit, salary issue of The 121st session of the Senate witnessed a marked they could seek condonation of their absence if they so employees at Islamabad Model College, sale of Jinnah improvement in taking up parliamentary business being desired and might re-submit the agenda. private or government. The House strictly followed the The government had to face severe criticism over its schedule for each sitting as they faced a delay of only one foreign policy and failure to become member of the 47- minute, on average. member UNHRC in re-election process after serving for Taking up all agenda items during 10 sittings is one of the three terms. The Chairman referred the matter to the greatest accomplishments of the House, as it considered Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and directed to EXECUTIVE SUMMARY submit report within a month, besides determining reasons House in Washington D.C., suspension of survey in for losing the seat. earthquake-hit areas, non-payment of salary to Pakistan The return of MQM lawmakers to the House after 11 weeks, the entire 111- item agenda appeared on Orders of the Day. Steel Mills employees and concerns of a Chinese company The Senate session witnessed clarification by the debate on law and order, climate change challenges, The House addressed 84% (93) agenda items while most regarding setting up of a solar park. economic issues and ISPR's criticism on governance are the of the remaining 16% (18) interventions could not be government regarding delay in NFC and change in CPEC's main highlights of the 10-sitting 121st session of the Upper addressed due to the absence of movers or they were not route. The Finance Minister assured the House that the Six Motions under Rule 218 came for discussion comprising House, starting from Nov2 and ending on Nov13, 2015. admitted as per rules. During the previous session new NFC award will be finalized at the earliest; adding that power sector, foreign affairs and governance issues. The comprising seven sittings, only 69 agenda items appeared the extension in 7th NFC Award is not unconstitutional and House deferred two privilege motions due to the absence The Senators expressed their concerns on the China on Orders of the Day. Of these, 80% (55) were taken up will continue till a consensus is reached on new award. The of movers while 18 such motions were settled which were Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route, the price of while the rest of agenda remained unaddressed. Minister for SAFRON assured the House that the decision pending since long. imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), foreign policy of All Parties Conference on CPEC route will be An instance of pointing out the quorum was witnessed especially after Pakistan's defeat in the United Nations The agenda items of the treasury as well as the opposition implemented in letter and spirit. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) polls, relief efforts in the lawmakers were considered during the session. However, during the session by a PkMAP lawmaker following which earthquake-hit areas, ability of civil departments to cope the Question Hour was marred by the absence of ministers The House also witnessed adoption of eight resolutions. the Chair ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes. with the natural disasters and appointments being made or their representatives as well as the movers. During the Two resolutions each were related to governance, However, it was found complete upon counting and the against Balochistan quota. session, the Chair once suspended the proceeding for 15 economy while one resolution each was on issues of proceeding was resumed. minutes due to the absence of relevant ministers. Only health, development project, federal employees, The session, however, did not yield much in terms of The House witnessed six walkouts and one protest, five 37% (73 of 195) of the starred questions were taken up archaeology, parliamentary privileges and tribute to the legislation as only one bill – the Anti-Money Laundering were staged by the entire Opposition while an ANP while the rest of them remained unaddressed. greatest national poet. (Amendment) Bill 2015 – was passed while a private bill – lawmaker protested by observing walk out. The walkouts the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2015 – was During first sitting of the session, Senate Chairman gave Senators spoke on 137 Matters of Public Importance were due to the non-implementation of decisions made in introduced. Two ordinances were laid and forwarded to the the ruling on acceptance or otherwise of the MQM consuming 345 minutes – 17% of the session time. A total All Parties Conference about CPEC, keeping sale price of relevant committee. Senators' resignations. The Chairman stated that the of 17 reports were presented by various Standing LNG secret and lack of permission to speak on matter of confirmation of resignations was due after completion of Committees during the reporting period.