ISLAMABAD: The Senate adopted a resolution to express solidarity with the democratic government of Turkey in the aftermath of an attempted quo during the 3rd sitting of its ongoing 250th session on Wednesday, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) reported in its daily factsheet.
The Senate met for two hours and 28 minutes. The sitting started one minute late against the scheduled time of 1500 hours. The chairman chaired the sitting for an hour and 20 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were presided over by the deputy chairman. The leader of the house attended the sitting for 67 minutes while the leader of the opposition was present for 88 minutes. Parliamentary leaders of ANP, MQM, PML-N and NP also attended the sitting.
18 members out of 104 total members (17 per cent) were present at the outset and 19 members (18 per cent) at the end of the sitting. Tabled by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker, the house adopted a resolution to show commitment and solidarity with the democratic institutions of Turkey.
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control chairman, a Pakistan Muslim League-N lawmaker presented reports on the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The minister for law presented the third quarterly report for the year 2015-2016 of the central board of directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of the economy. The house also passed two motions under Rule 194 (1) to extend the presentation period of the two reports till August 30, 2016 instead of September 30, 2016 which were regarding the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, 2016 and starred question regarding PSDP Projects for the construction and the maintenance of dams.
Another motion under Rule 194 (1) to extend the presentation period of report about flaws in the design of runways of new Islamabad Airport was also passed. It sought extension for a period of twenty working days with effect from July 22, 2016. A motion under Rule 196 (1) was disposed of by the Chair due to consideration of same issue in the lower house.
The motion was about considering and adopting special report on the issue pertaining to salaries and allowances of the members of the election commission of Pakistan. The house took up a calling attention notice about the non-functioning of colleges of medical lab technology due to lack of teachers, equipment and basic facilities.
Another notice was deferred on the request of a mover which was regarding the reported disparity between the quota of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the total power generated in the country and the actual supply of electricity. An adjournment motion to address the water issues between India and Pakistan was withdrawn by the mover after the chair’s remarks to take this matter in committee of the whole.
Another motion regarding disconnection of gas to Pakistan Steel Mills and non-payment of salaries and gratuity to its employees was dropped due to absence of mover. The chair deferred another motion about the salient features of agreement between Pakistan and China on the written request of the mover. The house took 16 out of 25 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, the lawmakers also asked 39 supplementary questions.
