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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
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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
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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
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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
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Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti
BAP
2I attended
1Bill
Not Taken Up
13Bills
Introduced
6Bill
Passed
23Total Bills
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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
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: November 12, 2018
Date of Presentation of Committee Report: January 23, 2019
Date of Passage: April 29, 2019
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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)
Date of Introduction: November 12, 2018
Date of Presentation of Committee Report: January 30, 2019
Date of Passage: April 29, 2019
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
Date of Passage: April 29, 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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: April 29, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: May 6, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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.
Mover: Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh (MQM)
Date of Introduction: May 6, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: May 6, 2019
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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.
Mover: Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh (MQM)
Date of Introduction: May 6, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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)
Date of Introduction: May 6, 2019
Status: Referred to concerned Standing Committee
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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