HOUSE OF FEDERATION FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR

HOUSE OF FEDERATION

th288 SESSION

FAFENPARLIAMENT

MONITOR

April 25 - May 13, 2019

FREE AND FAIR ELECTION NETWORK

www.fafen.org www.openparliament.pk

HOUSE OF FEDERATION

th288 SESSION

FAFENPARLIAMENT

MONITOR

April 25 - May 13, 2019

FREE AND FAIR ELECTION NETWORK

www.fafen.org www.openparliament.pk

PML-N Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)

PPPP Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians

PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

PML-F Pakistan Muslim League (Functional)

NP National Party

BNP-M Balochistan National Party (Mengal)

ANP Awami National Party

PkMAP Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party

JUI (F) Jamiatul-Ulema-e-Islam (F)

MQM Mutahidda Qaumi Movement

AM Adjournment Motion

BAP Balochistan Awami Party

JI Jamaat-e-Islami

IND Independent Member

CANs Calling Attention Notices

ABBREVIATIONS

The House observed punctuality during the session with nine out 12

sittings starting on their scheduled time. On an average, each sitting

started only half a minute behind the scheduled time. The maximum

delay of four minutes was witnessed during fifth sitting. The seventh

sitting was the shortest one that continued for an hour and 42 minutes

seven minutes, whereas the fourth sitting was the longest that

continued for four hours and 46 minutes

A total of 69 out of 103 (or 67 percent) lawmakers including 54 men and

15 women participated in the proceedings of the House by

contributing to the agenda and/ or to debates. The participating male

lawmakers included 13 members of PPPP, 12 of PML-N, seven of PTI,

three each of JUI-F and NP, two of JI, one each of BNP, PkMAP, MQM

and 11 independents. Similarly, six female PPPP lawmakers, four of PML-

N, three of PTI and one each of MQM and ANP participated in the

proceedings.

The session's agenda mainly comprised 20 private members' bills, three

government bills, ten Calling Attention Notices (CANs), six Motions

under Rule 218, 12 resolutions, 27 Senate Committees' reports, 19

motions seeking extension for submission of reports by standing

committees.

The Senate addressed 93 percent of its agenda during 288th session

with 67 percent lawmakers participating in the proceedings. The House

passed five private members' bills and a government bill during the

session that continued between April 25 and May 13, 2019 while it also

debated the recent increase in prices of petroleum products and

annual report on human rights.

On the other hand, 34 (33 percent) lawmakers including 29 men and

five women did not participate in the proceedings throughout the

session. The non-participating members included 15 independents,

four lawmakers of PTI, three of PML-N, two each of BAP, NP and MQM

and one of PPPP. Five female legislators including three Independent

and one each of MQM and PkMAP did not participate in proceedings.

The session's proceedings were interrupted on nine occasions due to

lawmakers' walkouts or the lack of quorum. The opposition lawmakers

staged six walkouts mainly against the ministerial absence from the

House while the quorum was identified thrice during the session with two

sittings being adjourned due to lack of quorum.

19Working

Days

12Total

Sittings

15Minutes

TotalBreak Time

37Cumulative

Duration

Hours & 5 Minutes

SENATE ADDRESSES 93%AGENDA DURING 288TH SESSION

69 Lawmakers Participate in the Proceedings

www.fafen.org 01

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

Session, Duration and Attendance1

The official attendance records indicate that the average attendance

per sitting attendance was 78 lawmakers (75 percent). According to

headcounts conducted by FAFEN, an average 13 (12 percent)

lawmakers were present at the commencement and 19 (18 percent) at

the adjournment of each sitting.

The 288th session of the Senate comprised 12 sittings spanned over 20

working days. Cumulatively, the House assembled for 37 hours and four

minutes, while the proceedings remained suspended for 15 minutes due

to prayer break. On an average, each sitting started half a minute late

against the scheduled time and continued for nearly three hours and

five minutes. The Chairman attended 11 sittings and presided over the

proceedings for 32 hours and 18 minutes (87 percent of the proceedings)

while the Deputy Chairman remained present in seven sittings and

chaired the proceedings for four hours and 46 minutes (13 percent of the

proceedings).

The Leader of the House attended 10 sittings during the session for 24

hours and six minutes (65 percent of the proceedings). On the other

hand, the Leader of the Opposition also attended ten sittings and

remained present in the House for 20 hours and 32 minutes (55 percent of

the proceedings).

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and PkMAP were the most regular

among their counterparts from other parties as they were observed to be

present in every sitting of the session. The leaders of PML-N, BNP-M, ANP

and JI attended nine sittings each, MQM and JUI-F seven sittings each,

PML-F six sittings and BAP two sittings. The parliamentary leader of NP did

not attend any sitting during the session while PTI has not nominated

parliamentary leader in the House after appointment of Azam Swati as

federal minister.19present

Members at End(Average)

13present

Members at Outset(Average)

.5Average

Sitting Delay

78Maximum Members

www.fafen.org 02

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

Senate Output2

This section deals with the legislative business, resolutions, reports and

documents presented before the House during the session.

2.1 Legislation

Out of 20 private members bills included in the Orders of the Day, PPPP

lawmakers sponsored ten bills; MQM lawmakers five bills, PML-N and

independent lawmakers two bills each and a PTI lawmaker one bill.

A brief description of the bills passed or introduced in the House is given

below:

The legislative agenda brought before the House during 288th session

comprised 23 bills – 20 private members' and three government. Of

these, the House passed six bills, referred 13 bills to the relevant

committees while two bills were withdrawn by their mover. The remaining

three bills were not addressed during the session.

Seconds

0

Prime MinisterLeader of the

Opposition

10

Leader ofthe House

Chairman

Presided for SpentSpentSpent

87% 55%65%0%Time (hh:mm) Time (hh:mm)Time (hh:mm)Time (hh:mm)

32:18 24:06 20:32

Deputy Chairman

Presided for

13%Time (hh:mm)

04:46 00:00* Nine percent time was consumed in a break for prayers and suspension of proceedings.

107

11

SITTINGS DURATION (hh:mm)

MEMBERS’ ATTENDANCE

KEY MEMBERS’ ATTENDANCE

Members at Outset Members at End

www.fafen.org 03

02:31 02:23

03:58

04:46

03:54

02:1101:42

03:08

01:54

04:27

02:25

03:45

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1816

12 1311

13 13 14

1012

16

11

2724 23

14

1921

11

19

23

7

16

20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Usman Kakar

PkMAP12I attended

Siraj ul Haq

JI9I attended

Jehnzeb Jamaldini

9I attendedBNP-M

Mushahid Ullah Khan

9I attendedPML-N

M. Ali Khan Saif

MQM7I attended

Muzaffar Shah

PML-F

6I attended

Sitara Ayaz

ANP9I attended

Hasil Bizenjo

NP0I attended

Atta Ur Rehman

JUI-F7I attended

Sherry Rehman

PPPP12I attended

PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ATTENDANCE

www.fafen.org 04

Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti

BAP

2I attended

1Bill

Not Taken Up

13Bills

Introduced

6Bill

Passed

23Total Bills

www.fafen.org 05

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

2.1.1 Government Bill Passed by the House:

1 The Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019

The bill provides for grouping of two or more separate areas in a constituency for the purpose of elections in recently merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Mover: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Ali Muhammad Khan)

Date of Introduction in the Senate: May 8, 2019

Date of Passage: May 8, 2019

2.1.2 Government Bills introduced in the House:

1 The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Bill, 2019

The bill provides legal framework for constituting Federal Government Employees Housing Authority for planning and development of housing schemes for serving and retired federal government employees.

Mover: Minister for Housing and Works (Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema)

Date of Introduction: April 25, 2019

Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee

2The Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The amendment seeks to define the qualifications for appointments in the offices of chairmen and members of power sector's regulatory bodies including NEPRA.

Mover: Leader of the House (Syed Shibli Faraz)

Date of Introduction: May 13, 2019


2.1.3 Private Members' Bills Passed by the House:

1 The Exit from Pakistan (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The bill provides for authorizing the government to specify the grounds for prohibiting persons from leaving Pakistan.

Mover: Mian Raza Rabbani (PPPP)

Date of Introduction: November 12, 2018

Date of Presentation of Committee Report: January 23, 2019

Date of Passage: April 29, 2019

2 The Banking Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The bill is aimed at restoring trade unions in the banking organizations. It provides for deletion of Section 27B of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 that places fetters on the functioning of trade unions in banking organizations.

Mover: Mian Raza Rabbani (PPPP)




www.fafen.org 06

3 The Trained Paramedical Staff Facility Bill, 2018

The bill aims at providing for the facility of trained paramedical staff in public and private schools in Islamabad Capital Territory.

Mover: Quratulain Marri (PPPP)




4 The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The bill seeks to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, defining the child as a person who is under 18 years of age and criminalizing the underage marriages.

Mover: Sherry Rehman (PPPP)

Date of Introduction: December 18, 2018

Date of Presentation of Committee Report: February 25, 2019


5 The Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2018

The bill provides legal framework for establishing Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority to regulate the functioning of the courier and logistic services providers.

Mover: Khushbakht Shujat (MQM)

Date of Introduction: March 7, 2018

Date of Presentation of Committee Report: May 2, 2019

Date of Passage: May 13, 2019

2.1.1.4 Private Members' Bills Introduced in the House:

1 The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (Amendment) Bill, 2019

This bill aims to authorize Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) to arrange in-service trainings on parliamentary affairs to the government officials.

Mover: Sassui Palijo (PPPP)



2 The Islamabad Community Integration Bill, 2019

The bill seeks to constitute Rifahi Committees at local levels in the country to provide for the welfare of the poor and marginalized sections of the society.

Mover: Sassui Palijo (PPPP)



3 The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Article 198)

This bill seeks to address the problems faced by the litigants as well as lawyers seeking cost-effective and early disposal of the litigation through sufficient benches of the High Courts in the provinces.

Mover: Muhammad Javed Abbasi (PML-N)



HO

US

E O

F F

ED

ER

AT

ION

- S

ES

SIO

N R

EP

OR

T

www.fafen.org 07

4 The Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The amendment provides for the qualifications for the appointment of Members of CDA's Board of Directors.

Mover: Abdul Rehman Malik (PPPP)



5 The Maintenance and Welfare of Old Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2019

The bill aims to provide for maintenance and welfare of old parents and establish Old Age Homes for well-being, comfort and dignity of the senior citizens.

Mover: Rana Maqbool Ahmad (Independent)



6 The Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018

The bill aims to establish the Real Estate Regulatory Authority for regulation and promotion of the real estate sector and to ensure transparency in real estate transactions.

Mover: Mohsin Aziz (PTI)



7 The Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The bill seeks to make the money laundering a cognizable offence.

Mover: Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh (MQM)



3.1 Questions 8 The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The bill aims to check financial frauds involving payment through bank cheques by increasing the punishment for dishonoring of banking cheques due to insufficiency of funds in the accounts.




9 The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The bill aims to amend section 240 of the Companies Act, 2017 to provide for mandatory declaration of dividends for the protection of interests of the shareholders, especially the minority shareholders and to ensure that in even of profit, they are paid a dividend after its declaration by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Mover: Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi (PML-N)


Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee HO

US

E O

F F

ED

ER

AT

ION

- S

ES

SIO

N R

EP

OR

T

10The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Substitution of section 489F of PPC and amendment of Schedule-II of Cr.PC)

The bill aims to check financial frauds involving payment through bank cheques by increasing the punishment for dishonoring of banking cheques due to insufficiency of funds in the accounts.




2.3 Reports

The Standing Committees presented 27 reports on various issues

including two legislative proposals referred to them by the House. Details

of the reports presented by the Standing Committees in the House is as

follows:

2.2 Resolutions

The adopted private members' resolutions condemned the terrorist

attacks in New Zealand and recommended to government to

discourage the excessive use of plastic in official departments, take

possession of land in Zone-I, Islamabad, extend the Prime Minister's

Scholarship Program for Balochistan for a period of five years, devise an

efficient mechanism to measure performance of Commercial Officers

posted in Pakistani missions abroad, take the examination of Central

Superior Services (CSS) in national language Urdu along with English and

retain the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) headquarters in Karachi

instead of relocating it to Islamabad.

The House adopted seven out of 15 private members' resolutions listed

for consideration during the session. The lawmakers also approved three

supplementary resolutions which condemned the incidents of terrorism

in Sri Lanka, offered condolences on the demise of former Senator Ihsan-

ulHaq Paracha, and paid tribute to journalists on World Press Freedom

Day.

These resolutions were tabled by the lawmakers belonging to PPPP, PML-

N, PTI, BNP-M, JI, NP, ANP and independents.

11 The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Substitution of Article 84)

The amendment aims to curb the practice of authorizing supplementary budgets or excess budgets without prior assent from the Parliament.

Mover: Sherry Rehman (PPPP)



www.fafen.org 08

Standing Committee No of Reports

Interior 4

Science and Technology

4

Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs

3

Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas

2

Petroleum Division

2

SAFRON 2

Special Committee 2

Commerce and Textile Industry

1

Rules of Procedure and Privileges

1

Postal Services

1

Maritime Affairs

1

Aviation

1

National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination

1

Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan

1

Law and Justice

1

Grand Total 27

10ResolutionsAdopted

6MuR 218

Taken Up

27Reports

Presented

15Total

Resolutions

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

www.fafen.org 09

Representation and Responsiveness 3

This section gives statistical as well as qualitative overview of the

legislators' interventions in the House – Questions, Calling Attention

Notices (CANs), Motions under Rule 218 or any other motions – for

oversight of the government and to articulate issues of public interest

and importance.

According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the

Senate, the first hour of every sitting except Monday is reserved for

asking and answering questions by the members. These questions can

be starred or unstarred. The Rules of Procedure require the cabinet

ministers to answer a starred question orally as well as in writing while the

un-starred questions are to be replied only in writing.

During the reporting session, the House held Question Hours during nine

sittings and 265 starred questions were listed for answers during these

sittings. The House took up 114 starred questions for oral answers while

103 were not taken up, 40 were disposed of due to the absence of

movers and the remaining eight questions were deferred. The

lawmakers also asked 205 supplementary questions for further

elucidation of the starred questions.

A total of 33 lawmakers - 21 male and 12 female – exercised their right to

ask questions. Among male lawmakers, five belonged to PPPP, four to

PML-N, two to JI, and one each to BNP-M, JUI-F, MQM, NP, PkMAP and PTI

while the remaining four lawmakers were independents. Similarly, four

PML-N female lawmakers, three each of PTI and PPPP and one ANP

female legislator submitted questions.

These questions appearing on the list were addressed to 34 ministries or

departments of the government and their break-up is as follows:

The House formally adopted three of these reports including the report

of the Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas on its

visit to Chitral, Kalash and Peshawar in October 2018, the report of the

Standing Committee on Science and Technology on PCSIR's Expo-cum-

Conference in Lahore, and the report of the Special Committee on theft

of antiquities from Peshawar Museum.

Moreover, the House held a discussion on the Annual Report of the

National Commission for Human Rights 2017. The discussion continued

for 55 minutes. The House also granted extension to the ten committees

for presentation of 19 reports.

3.1 Questions

# Ministries/DepartmentsNo of

Questions

1. Interior 34

2. Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs 25

3. Railways 22

205

114

SupplementaryQuestions

QuestionsTaken Up

8Deferred

265Starred

Questions

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

3.2 Calling Attention Notices

The House took up seven out of ten Calling Attention Notices (CANs)

appearing on the Orders of the Day. The notices highlighted the issues

related to closure of 175 Utility Stores, Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR)

tax shortfall, inflation prior to Ramazan, rise in number of polio cases,

unavailability of public transport at Islamabad International Airport,

talks between International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government,

and increase in the prices of imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

A notice regarding reallocation of CPEC funds for other programs was

referred to the relevant committee. A CAN regarding provision of Halal

certificates on imported goods was dropped due to the absence of the

mover while another notice regarding statement of the Prime Minister

during his visit to Tehran remained unaddressed during the session.

www.fafen.org 10

4.National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination

17

5. Federal Education and Professional Training 14

6. Energy (Petroleum Division) 12

7. commerce and Textile 12

8. Water Resources 12

9. Communications 11

10. Aviation Division 8

11. foreign Affairs

8

12. National Food Security and Research

7

13. Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division

7

14. Planning, Development and Reforms

7

15. Housing and Works

7

16. Industries and Production

6

17. Energy (Power Division)

6

18. Information and Broadcasting

5

19. establishment Disivision

5

20. Inter Provincial Coordination

5

21. Information Technology and Telecommunication

4

22. Science and Technology

4

23.Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development

4

24. Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony

3

25. Maritime Affairs

3

26. Cabinet Division

3

27. Prime Minister’s Office

3

28. Law and Order

3

29. climate change

3

30. States and Frontier Regions

1

31. human rights

1

32. privatization 1

33. Narcotics Control

1

34. National History and Literary Heritage

1

Grand Total 265

# Ministries/DepartmentsNo of

Questions

7CANs

Taken Up

1Motions

under Rule 157

10Calling

AttentionNotices

3CAN

Not Taken Up

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

3.3 Motions

As many as six Motions under Rule 218 (MUR 218) and seven

Adjournment Motions (AMs) were part of the Senate's Agenda for 288th

session.

Moreover, the House debated three MURs 218 regarding the rapid

increase in population, economic situation in the country, and need of

reforms in criminal justice system. The discussion on these motions

continued for an hour and 28 minutes. These motions were sponsored

by PML-N, JUI-F and PTI lawmakers.

The House debated the AMs for six hours and eight minutes. Through

these motions, the lawmakers sought government's response on the

excessive use and sale of antibiotics at medical stores, increase in the

current account deficit, functioning of Federal Investigation Agency,

delay in the announcement of new NFC Award and recent increase in

the prices of petroleum products.

A PPPP and an MQM lawmaker initiated two AMs each while the

remaining three AMs were identical and highlighted the increase in the

petroleum prices. These motions were moved by lawmakers belonging

to PPPP, PML-N and NP lawmakers and clubbed into one motion.

The House dropped a MUR 218 regarding high infant mortality rate due

to absence of its mover who belonged to JI. Moreover, two MURs 218,

initiated by NP and PkMAP lawmakers and seeking discussion on

construction of water reservoirs and billion trees plantation project,

were left unaddressed.

The House adopted a separate motion authorizing the Chairman

Senate to nominate Senators in the Parliamentary Committee

constituted to ensure steps for protection to minorities.

Oder and Institutionalization are important for an efficient and

productive legislature. This section provides information about Points of

Order, quorum and any instances of walkout during the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization4

4.1 Points of Order and Public Importance

As many as nine lawmakers raised Points of Order (POs) during the

session consuming an hour and 11 minutes (three percent) of the

proceedings. The lawmakers highlighted the issues related to the

absence of ministers from the House proceedings and political issues.

Moreover, 33 lawmakers raised matters of public importance

consuming four hours and 28 minutes (12 percent) of the proceedings.

www.fafen.org 11

As many as three CANs were sponsored by PPPP lawmakers, two by JI

lawmakers, and one each by JUI-F, PML-N, MQM and NP and PTI

lawmakers.

5Adjournment

Motions

2Question of Privileged

6 Walkouts

9Members

raising Points of Order

SE

SS

ION

HIG

HL

IGH

TS

www.fafen.org 12

HO

US

E O

F F

ED

ER

AT

ION

- S

ES

SIO

N R

EP

OR

T

4.4 Walkouts

The opposition lawmakers staged six walkouts during the session skipping the proceedings for a

total of an hour and 45 minutes. JUI-F and JI lawmakers walked out of the proceedings over their

reservations on the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2018. The opposition parties jointly

walked out on four occasions against the refusal of the Chair to allow debate on recent increase

in petroleum prices and absence of the government ministers to respond to the parliamentary

business. PPPP lawmaker also walked over remarks of a PTI lawmaker regarding the division of

the Sindh province.

4.3 Quorum

The quorum was identified on three occasions by independent, PPPP and PML-N lawmakers

during seventh, eighth and ninth sittings, respectively. As many as two of these sittings – seventh

and ninth – had to be adjourned after the identification of quorum while one sitting resumed

after the completion of quorum during the headcount.

These matters were mostly related to law and order, governance, economic and political issues.

4.2 Question of Privilege

A PPPP lawmaker raised a Question of Privilege (QoP) against Islamabad police officials while a

lawmaker belonging to JI moved QoP against an official of Frontier Constabulary (FC). Both

questions were forwarded to the relevant committee for its reports.

Free and Fair Election Networkwww.fafen.org

www.openparliament.pk I www.parliamentfiles.com

§ FAFEN is the only civil society group to have been invited by the Judicial Commission to present the evidence of illegalities and irregularities documented through the course of General Elections 2013 observation. The systemic and procedural issues identified by FAFEN have been acknowledged by the Commission in its detailed findings.

§ With more than 25,000 followers on Twitter and around 143,000 on Facebook, FAFEN is considered to be one of the most reliable sources of electoral and parliamentary information in the country.

§ FAFEN has harnessed information technology for real-time monitoring, facilitation and technical backstopping of partners for effective and result-based program delivery.

§ FAFEN's recommendations for electoral reforms have contributed to finalization of the Elections Act, 2017 and helped improve the quality of public and political discourse on elections. Leading political parties and media houses extensively use FAFEN's election findings and analysis to build upon the cases for reforms.

§ FAFEN's advocacy for parliamentary transparency, accountability and reforms has shaped public discourse on parliamentary reforms. Improved citizens' access to parliamentary information, including daily public release of parliamentarians' attendance records can be directly attributed to FAFEN's work.

§ FAFEN is one of the most credible networks among civil society organizations working to strengthen citizens' voice and accountability in Pakistan since 2006.

§ FAFEN deployed around 18,000, 40,000 and 20,000 non-partisan and trained observers for the systematic observation of the General Elections 2008, 2013 and 2018, respectively.

About FAFEN

HOUSE OF FEDERATION FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR

Documents

Transcript of HOUSE OF FEDERATION FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR