Quorum pointed out in 41.67% of Senate sittings

A lack of quorum was pointed out six times in five or 41.67 percent of the total sittings of the Senate, prompting them to be adjourned, the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) revealed in its analysis of the 321st session which began on September 26 and prorogued on October 21.

As many as 12 sittings were convened during the session spanning 26 days, said a news release issued by PILDAT.

The 321st session of the Senate met for 25 hours and 39 minutes with an average time of two hours and eight minutes per sitting.

The longest sitting of the session was held on Monday, September 26, when the upper house was adjourned after meeting for four hours and 12 minutes.

The shortest sitting was held on Friday, October 14, when 95.24 percent of the agenda items were left over and the upper house was adjourned due to lack of quorum after meeting for only six minutes, even though 41 Senators were recorded as present on the day.

The average delay in starting a sitting was five minutes during the session.
On average 43.92 percent of the agenda items were left over during the 321st session and the Senate could dispose only 56.08 percent of its agenda items in 12 sittings.

Lack of quorum was pointed out six times in five or 41.67 percent of the total sittings during the session. The same five sittings were adjourned due to the lack of quorum.

During the 321st session, the Senate passed 14 bills. Out of these, three private members’ bills were introduced in the Senate while eight government bills and three private members’ bills were transmitted from the National Assembly (NA).

20 private members’ bills were introduced during the session and all of them were referred to the concerned committees. No ordinance was laid or extended during the session.

During the 321st session, the total time consumed for discussion on policy issues spanned over only three hours while the Senate consumed 11 hours and 46 minutes on the discussion of non-policy issues.

The maximum time consumed in discussing policy issues was on a motion ‘Imposition of taxes on tobacco industry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ for 40 minutes while the House spent one hour and 40 minutes and one hour and 37 minutes discussing non-policy issues of ‘Deteriorating economic conditions and inflation in Pakistan’ and ‘Inefficiency of the government in dealing with floods victims and rehabilitation work’ respectively.

It must be noted that PILDAT has classified that a policy issue is one that involves any amendment in a bill or a recommendation on devising a policy. Any discussion on an issue that does not go beyond mere criticism or highlighting a concern does not fall into the classification of a policy issue and is treated as discussion or time spent on non-policy issues.