FAFEN Daily Factsheet: Sitting No.08, Session No.115 of the Senate

Senate Condemns Attack on Ismaili Community in Karachi

ISLAMABAD, May 13, 2015: The Senate adopted a resolution to condemn the attack on the Ismaili community on Wednesday that killed at least 43 people and injured several others, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The resolution was tabled by a PPPP senator and passed unanimously by the House. The lawmakers also offered prayers for the departed souls.

Two calling attention notices (CANs) on the closure of markets in Islamabad at 8pm and delay in completion of Makhi Farash Link Canal were left unaddressed due to the absence of the movers.

Six lawmakers discussed an adjournment motion on the merger of KASB Bank and Bank Islami was discussed for 60 minutes. The discussion was wrapped up by the State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, who spoke on the issue for another 22 minutes.

Another adjournment motion regarding a media report on the US raid on Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in 2011 was disposed of due to the mover’s absence.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

  • The Senate met for four hours and 31minutes.
  • The sitting started atits scheduled time of 1400hours.
  • The Chairman presided over the sitting for two hours and 27 minutes.
  • The Deputy Chairmanchaired the sitting for 67 minutes
  • The remaining time (57 minutes) was chaired by a member of the Panel of Chairpersons.
  • The Leader of the Housewas not present.
  • The Opposition Leader attended the sitting for 61 minutes.
  • The Prime Minister was not present.
  • 16 senators (15%) were present at the start and 32 (41%) at the end of the sitting.
  • A maximum of 38 senators (37%) attended the sitting.
  • The parliamentary leaders ofPPPP, PML-N, MQM, PkMAP and BNP-M were present.
  • Two minority memberswerepresent.
  • Seven members applied for leave.

Output

  • The House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the attack on commuters in Karachi that killed at least 43 people belonging to the Ismaili community.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • Six lawmakers (three each from MQM and PPPP) discussed an adjournment motion on the merger of KASB Bank and Bank Islami for 60 minutes. The discussion was wrapped up by the State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, who spoke on the issue for another 22 minutes.
  • Another adjournment motion regarding a media report on the US raid on Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in 2011 was disposed of due to the mover’s absence.
  • Three lawmakers (two from PML-N and one from MQM) discussed the medical entitlements of sitting and former senators’ family members for 18 minutes.
  • Two calling attention notices (CANs) on the closure of markets in Islamabad at 8pm and delay in completion of Makhi Farash Link Canal were left unaddressed due to the absence of the movers.

Order and Institutionalization

  • The lawmakers raised 31points of order that consumed54%of the proceedings’ time.
  • An MQM lawmaker staged a two-minute token walkout against the attack in Karachi.
  • The quorum was pointed out by a PPPP lawmaker at 1646 hours but was found to be complete upon lawmakers’ headcount.

Transparency

  • Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
  • Information on members’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union.This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.