Zubair Qureshi
During its 321st session since September 26, the Upper House of the Parliament met for 12 days and was prorogued on October 21, according to an analysis report of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) issued Thursday.
According to the PILDAT report, Senate met for 25 hours and 39 minutes with an average time of 2 hours and 8 minutes per sitting.
The longest sitting of the session was held on Monday, September 26 when the House was adjourned after 4 hours and 12 minutes. The shortest sitting was held on Friday, October 14 when 95.24pc agenda items were left over and the House was adjourned due to lack of quorum after meeting for only 6 minutes. This took place because 41 senators were recorded as present on the day. The average delay in starting a sitting was 5 minutes during the session. On average 43.92pc agenda items were left over during the 321st session and the Senate could dispose of only 56.08pc of its agenda items in 12 sittings, the PILDAT report further says.
Lack of quorum was pointed out 6 times in five 5 or 41.67pc out of 12 sittings during the session. The same five sittings were adjourned due to lack of quorum. This was despite the fact that on average 63 pc Senators marked attendance in the session.
Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Punjab, PTI) attended 12 or 100pc sittings during the session. He was followed by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Leader of the House (Punjab, PML-N), who attended only 2 or 18pc out of 11 sittings during the session.
