Senate discusses annual report on Human Rights

ISLAMABAD: The Senate took up its entire agenda on Thursday and discussed Annual Report of the National Commission for Human Rights for the year 2017, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The House met for four hours and 27 minutes. The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1100 hours. The Chairman presided over the entire sitting. The Deputy Chairman was not present. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting. The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 57 minutes.

The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting. As many as 12 lawmakers (11%) were present at the outset and seven (6%) at the adjournment of the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML-N, JUI-F, PPPP, JI, BNP-N and ANP attended the sitting. Three out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Convener of a Special Committee presented report of the committee about increasing incidents of child abuse. Chairman, Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan presented report of the Committee on the proposed Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the Ministry for Financial Year 2019-20.

The House granted 60-day extension to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges and 45-day extension to Senate Standing Committee on Interior for presentation of their reports on the matters referred to them.

The House discussed the Annual Report of the National Commission for Human Rights for the year 2017 and eight lawmakers spoke on it for 55 minutes. The debate will remain continue on it in next sitting.

The ministers replied to 11 out of 13 Starred Questions while one question was deferred and other was not taken up due to absence of the mover.

In addition, lawmakers asked 23 supplementary questions as well. As many as 25 lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance for two hours and 17 minutes which were mostly related to political as well as economic issues and law and order situation in the country.

As many as three lawmakers raised Points of Order consuming three minutes of the proceedings. PPPP lawmakers walked out from the proceedings at 1450 hours over remarks of a PTI lawmaker in perspective of statement of Governor Sindh about division of the province.

They did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting. The House was adjourned to meet again on May 10, 2019 (Friday) at 1030 hours.