Senate Of Pakistan

A Handbook for
Members

Islamabad, (January 2009)

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Third Edition: 2009

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Contents

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NAME INTERCOM OFFICE RESIDENCE Foreword 01

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Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed
Chief Translator

Mr. Rashid Ahmed

Chief Reporter
9022/502

9022/597
9206677

9205914
5957444

2875964
Summoning, Prorogation of the Senate
Seating, Oath and Roll of Members
02
02
Leave of absence from the sittings of the Senate 03
Mrs. Farzana Khan 9022/546 9213263 9212787
Chief Interpreter
Election of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman 04
Senator Services Center 9223405
9223410 Quorum 05
9201150

Lady Senators Services Center 9223415 Powers and functions of the Chairman 05
9055575
Sittings and business of the Senate 06
Mr. Muhammad Akbar 9022/507
Assistant Engineer (SIS)
Language of the Senate 07
R&l Branch 9022/515 9201146
Fax: 9203359 Points of order 07
Questions 07
Privilege motions 09
Adjournment motions 09
Call attention notices 09

Postal Address:
Senate of Pakistan
Parliament House Building,
Constitution Avenue,
Islamabad, 44000
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Legislative procedure 10 NAME INTERCOM OFFICE RESIDENCE

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Mr. Asim Goraya 9022/705 9207985 9257707
Reference to Standing Committees 10 Section Officer

Resolutions 11 Mr. Shaukat Javaid 9022/565 9216979

Section Officer
Motions (Under Rule 194) 11
Mr. Mughees Ahmed Sheikh 9022/591 9214127 9230404
Section Officer
Constitutional Resolutions 11
Mr. Rafiullah 9022/530 9214128 9240924
Privileges and immunities of members of Senate 12 Section Officer

Mr. Jamil A. Khoso 9022/715 9207920 9235753

Rules to be observed by members while present 12 Section Officer
in the Senate
Mr. Muhammad Ahad 9230363
Section Officer
Mode of address 15 Mr. Muhammad Rizwan Tanveer 9022/541 9204148 2241864
Sergeant-at-Arms
Committees 16
Ms. Shagufta Jadoon 9022/568 9213725 9202391
Salary and allowances of members 17 Librarian

Syed Shujaat Abbas 9022/571 9205284 9230138

Important telephone numbers 23 D.G.P.R

Syed Muhammad Ilyas 9022/719 9213448 9207638

P.R.O

Mr. Navaid Ather 9022/590 9204152 4448562

Deputy Director (LAN)

Mr. Nazeer Ahmed Mahar 9022/583 9201410 2251836

Senior Research Officer

Mr. Javaid Iqbal 9022/536 9201153 9207857

Chief Editor of Debates

ii S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 25
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Foreword

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NAME INTERCOM OFFICE RESIDENCE The Senate business is regulated under the provisions

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Syed Mussarrat Abbas Shah 9022/532 9221409 9207283 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate,
Deputy Secretary 1988 made in pursuance of Article 67(1), of the Constitution.
Mr. Muhammad Anwar 9022/542 9205750 9267118
Deputy Secretary The Handbook is an abridged version of some of the
selected Rules to acquaint the new members with the legislative
Mr. Sharaft H. Niazi 9022/593 9208250 9266917 terminology, the procedures of legislation and functions of
Deputy Secretary
Standing/Functional Committees of the House.
Mr. Zahid Anwar Siddiqui 9022/533 9209448 9213275
Deputy Secretary An effort has been made to ensure that the true
Mr. Ghulam Murtaza 9022/711 9213722 9258863 essence of Rules is conveyed to enable the members to
Deputy Secretary effectively participate in the proceedings of the House. This
Handbook is not a substitute for the Rules whose in-depth study
Mr. Abdul Hakim Hashmi 9022/570 9201491 9241225
Deputy Secretary is a prerequisite for sound understanding of the laid down
parameters of the twin role of legislation/accountability.
Mr. Muhammad Tahir Khan 9022/540 9204087 9258864
Deputy Secretary
It is hoped that with the feedback of discerning
Mr. Islam Khan Khattak 9022/524 9215585 9262650 honourable members and with continued endeavours of the
F & A Officer
officers, dealing with legislation and Standing/Functional
Mr. Khurshid Ahmed Khan 9022/580 9204085 9202596 Committees, this Handbook will continue to improve for the
Section Officer benefit of parliamentary posterity.
Malik Arshad Iqbal 9022/729 9207392 9237365
Section officer I wish to acknowledge the good work done by the
officers of the Senate Secretariat, especially those heading the
Mr. Ihsan-ul-Haq 9022/586 9213446 2293289
Section Officer
Legislation, Committees and Inter-Parliamentary Relations
wings, for their insight and valuable input.
Mr. Ghulam Shabbir 9022/581 9201494 9237816
Section Officer

Ch. Salamat Ali 9022/704 9209836 2264467 RAJA MUHAMMAD AMIN

Section Officer
Secretary
Ms Rukhsana Soomro 9022/556 9210951 9206468
Section Officer

24 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 01
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T A Prorogation
ASummoning, SENATE
SECRETARIATE
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Important Telephone Numbers
of the Parliament House Exchange: 9022022

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Fax: 9203359/9205205
The President, from time to time, summons either

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Website: www.senate.gov.pk
House or both the Houses of Parliaments under Article 54 (1) of
Email: senate@comsats.net.pk
the Constitution. However, the Chairman, Senate can also, under
Article 54(3), summon the Senate on a requisition signed by not info@senate.gov.pk
less than one-fourth of the total membership of the House. In
either case the Secretary, Senate causes a notification to be NAME INTERCOM OFFICE RESIDENCE
published in the Gazette stating date, time and place of the
Raja Muhammad Amin 9022/552 9212265 9218884
meeting and also causes it to be issued to each member. Its
Secretary 9210544
announcement over the radio/TV and in the Press is also made. Fax: 9209096
Likewise, a notification with regard to prorogation is caused by
Mr. Iftikhar Ullah Babar 9022/506 9209790 9266966
the Secretary. Additional Secretary

Mr. Shahiq A. Khan 9211334 9223023

Seating, Oath and Additional Secretary
Roll of Members Mr. Jamil Ahmed Qureshi 9022/582 9209772 9230025
Joint Secretary Fax: 9203154
A person, elected as member, before taking seat in the
Mr. Mehboob Ali 9022/560 9202386 5486714
Senate, makes oath before the Senate. After making the oath the Joint Secretary
members sign the Roll of Members. The members sit in the
Senate in an order as the Chairman or, before the Chairman is Malik Muhammad Akram Awan 9022/501 9221376 5468217
Joint Secretary
elected, as the Secretary determines.
Mr. Amjad Pervez 9022/563 9212636 9268216
Joint Secretary

Mr. Abdul Sami Khan 9022/562 9205167 9219601

Joint Secretary

Maj(R) Hamid Hassan 9022/728 9201336 9208863

Joint Secretary

Mr. Muhammad Hassan Khan 9022/543 9207044 9206992

Deputy Secretary

02 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 23
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Explanation:-"Period of residence on duty" means stay at
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the place where session or committee meeting is held and other
business is transacted and includes:-
(a) upto period not exceeding three days before the
commencement of session and three days following
the end of session, and
(b) upto period not exceeding two days before the
commencement of a sitting of the committee and
two days after the conclusion of the sitting of a
committee or of the other business.
Telephone Facility
i. Telephone facility in the office to a limit of ten
thousand rupees per month;
ii. Installation of telephone at the residence at
Islamabad at Government expense and
exemption of rental and payment of charges of c a l l s
up to a maximum of five thousand rupees per month.
22 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT
Leave of absence
from the sittings of the Senate
A member, desirous of obtaining leave for his absence
from any sitting or session of the Senate, can make an
application in writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman
stating reasons for his absence. This request is placed before the
House for approval.
An attendance register is maintained in which the
names of the members, attending the sitting, are recorded by an
official of the Senate Secretariat. A member can inspect the
register if he deems it necessary. The Constitution provides that
if a member remains absent for 40 [forty] consecutive days
without leave of the House, his seat can be declared vacant by
the House.
A member of the Senate may, by writing under his
hand addressed to the Chairman, resign his seat under Article 64
and thereupon his seat becomes vacant.
S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 03
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AElectionTAof the Chairman
IS Deputy Chairman
Travelling Allowance.

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and the Journey by Rail

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After the Senate has been duly constituted, at its first An amount equal to the aggregate of one air-

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meeting it elects, from amongst its members, a Chairman and a conditioned class fare and one second class fare,
Deputy Chairman. Whenever the office of the Chairman or the
Deputy Chairman becomes vacant the Senate elects another Journey by Air
member to fill the vacant office.
An amount equal to the aggregate of one business
The Chairman or the Deputy Chairman can be class airfare and one hundred and fifty rupees, and
removed from the office by means of a resolution moved by a
member and passed by a majority of the total membership of
the Senate, in terms of Article 61 read with paragraph (c) of
Journey by Road
clause (7) over a meeting of the Senate in which a resolution for
Mileage allowance at the rate of five rupees per
his removal from office is being considered.
kilometer.
Term of office of the Chairman and the Deputy
Chairman is three years. In absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Note:- The traveling allowance in respect of a journey between
Chairman acts as Chairman. two stations shall be admissible on the basis of the shortest of
the practicable routes between those stations.
At the commencement of each session the Chairman
nominates a panel in order of precedence of not more than three Allowances
presiding officers. In the absence of the Chairman and the
Deputy Chairman, a member of the panel present, having Daily Allowance and Housing Allowance for attending the
precedence, presides over the sitting of the Senate. Senate Session or meeting of a Committee at the following rates
per day for the period of residence on duty:-

Daily Allowance Rs. 1,000

Conveyance allowance Rs. 7,50
Housing allowance Rs. 2,000

Total Rs. 3,750

04 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 21
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Salary, Allowances and TA/DA Quorum

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admissible to the
CHAIRMEN STANDING COMMITTEES

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Salary and Allowances are admissible at following monthly If, at any time during a sitting of the Senate, the

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rates: attention of the Chairman is drawn to the fact that less than one-
fourth of the total membership of the Senate is present, he
Salary Rs. 23,806 suspends the business of the Senate and causes the bells to be
Sumptuary Allowance Rs. 5,000 rung for five minutes, but if no quorum is available even when
Office Maint. Allowance Rs. 8,000 the bells stop ringing, he adjourns the sitting.
Telephone Allowance Rs. 10,000
Honorarium Rs. 12,700
*Adhoc Relief Rs. 2,250
Powers and Functions
**Dearness Allowance Rs. 2,588 of the Chairman
Total: RS. 64,344
The Chairman, or in his absence, the Deputy Chairman
In addition, Chairman of a Standing Committee or a functional or the presiding officer takes the Chair at every sitting of the
committee is entitled of the following facilities: Senate. The Chairman is responsible for preserving order and
decorum in the House and has all the powers necessary for
A staff car for use in Islamabad with petrol upto 360 enforcing his decisions.
liter per month.
A Private Secretary in (B-17) When the Chairman speaks others should remain
A Stenographer in (B-15) silent and when he calls for order his wishes and orders must be
A Driver in (B-4), and obeyed. Rulings of the Chair are binding.
A Naib Qasid in (B-l).
A Minister may, with the consent of the Chairman,
make a statement on a matter of public importance but no
Free Travel question can be asked nor discussion takes place thereon at the
a) Travel Vouchers of the value of Rs. 150,000 per year time the statement is made.
or
Cash in lieu of Travel Vouchers of Rs. 90,000 per year.
b) Fifteen business class, open, return air tickets.

*Adhoc Relief is not admissible to a Senator

(who)elected on or after 01-07-2005.
**Dearness Allowance is not admissible to a
Senator (who) elected on or after 01-0,7-2007.

20 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 05
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Aand Business
A Sittings
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The Senate is required to meet for not less than 90 days Explanation:- "Period of residence on duty" means stay at

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in a parliamentary year and not more than 120 days shall elapse the place where session or committee meeting is held and other
between any two sessions. business is transacted and includes:-

The Senate sits on such days and time as fixed by the a) upto period not exceeding three days before the
Chairman. Each sitting commences with recitation from the Holy commencement of session and three days following
Quran. the end of session, and

The business of the House is classified as government, b) upto period not exceeding two days before the
private and Senate business. Government business includes commencement of a sitting of the committee and
Bills, resolutions, amendments and other motions introduced by two days after the conclusion of the sitting of a
a Minister. Private members' business includes Bills, resolutions, committee or of the other business.
amendments and other motions introduced by private
members. Senate business includes business relating to
Committees and such other business as the Chairman may
classify as Senate business.

The orders of the day, depicting business of the House,

is prepared by the Secretary. The government business is
arranged in such order as the Leader of the House intimates.

06 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 19
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Language of

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An amount equal to the aggregate of one air- A member shall address the Senate in Urdu or English.

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conditioned class fare and one second class fare, However, the Chairman may permit any member, who cannot
adequately express himself in any of these languages, to address
Journey by Air the Senate in his mother tongue.

An amount equal to the aggregate of one business Points of order

class air fare and one hundred and fifty rupees, and
Journey by Road
Mileage allowance at the rate of five rupees per
kilometer.
Note:- The travelling allowance in respect of a journey
between two stations shall be admissible on the basis of the
shortest of the practicable routes between those stations.
Allowances
Daily Allowance, Conveyance Allowance and Housing
Allowance for attending the Senate Session or meeting of a
Committee at the following rates per day for the period of
residence on duty:-
A member can raise a point of order relating to the
interpretation or enforcement of the rules or such Articles of the
Constitution as regulate the business of the Senate, and are in
the cognizance of the Chairman. A point of order can also be
raised in relation to the business before the Senate at the
moment.
Questions
A member can ask questions for which a notice has to
be given in writing under member's own signature with full
name addressed to the Secretary. Notice has to be delivered at
the Notice Office kept open for this purpose on every working
day or can be sent by post.
After recitation from the Holy Quran, the first hour

Daily Allowance Rs. 1,000

Conveyance allowance Rs. 750
Housing allowance Rs. 2,000

Total: Rs. 3,750

18 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 07
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Salary, Allowances and

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TA/DA admissible to
THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

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of every sitting is available for asking and answering of Salary and Allowances are admissible at following monthly rates:

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questions. There is no question hour on a day designated as
private members' day. Salary Rs. 23,806
Sumptuary Allowance Rs. 5,000
A question addressed to a Minister must relate to a Office Maint. Allowance Rs. 8,000
matter of public concern with which he is officially concerned Telephone Allowance Rs. 10,000
and should not be of undue length. *Adhoc Relief Rs. 2,250
**Dearness Allowance Rs. 2,588
The main purpose of asking questions is to seek Total: Rs. 51,644
information and also to draw attention of the government to
public grievances and to get them redressed.
Free Travel
After the reply has been given by the Minister,
(a) Travel Vouchers of the value of Rs. 150,000 per year
supplementary questions are allowed to seek clarifications and
or
throw light on different aspects of the question and its reply.
Cash in lieu of Travel Vouchers Rs. 90,000 per year.
Ordinarily, not more than three supplementary questions can be
(b) Fifteen business class, open, return air tickets.
asked in respect of any question.

The rules provide for half an hour discussion on a

matter of public importance arising out of the answer to a
question. A question, to which an oral reply is given by the
Minister, is a starred question. An unstarred question is the one to
which a written reply is supplied but no supplementary question
can be asked. *Adhoc Relief is not admissible to a Senator (who) elected on or
after 01-07-2005.
Each member may ask not more than three starred **Dearness Allowance is not admissible to a Senator (who) elected
questions and five unstarred questions for any one day. on or after 01-07-2007.

08 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 17
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A
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IS
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Under the Senate rules there shall be a Standing
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Committee which deals with the business of the Government
relating to the Ministry with which it is concerned or any other
matter referred to it by the Senate. A committee is also
authorized to examine suo moto the expenditures,
administration, legislation, the public petitions and policies of
the Ministry concerned and its attached public bodies.
Besides standing committees, there are three
functional committees, (i) Committee on Government
Assurances (ii) Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas
and (iii) Committee on Human Rights.
In addition to the above committees, there are two
other committees, namely the Committee on Rules of Procedure
and Privileges and the House Committee.
Each committee consists of not less than six members
and not more than twelve members to be elected by the Senate
with Minister concerned as Ex-officio member. A member
cannot be a member of more than five standing committees at
the same time. Each committee may appoint sub committees
which exercise the powers of the whole committee to examine
any subject or matter which may be referred to them.
16 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT
Privilege Motions
A member can, with the consent of the Chairman, raise a
question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of
the Senate or of the Committee thereof. A privilege motion must
relate to a specific matter and must be raised at the earliest
opportunity and it should be such as requires the intervention of
the Senate.
Adjournment Motions
A member can, with the consent of the Chairman, move a
motion for adjournment of the House to discuss a matter of
urgent public importance dealing with substantially one
definite issue of recent occurrence.
Call Attention Notices
A member who wishes to raise a matter of sufficient public
importance can call attention of the Minister to such matter by
giving notice in writing. The Chairman would select one of them
but not more than two notices in a week for a statement by the
Minister.
S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 09
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A Procedure
A Legislative
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A Bill with respect to any matter in the Federal
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Legislative List or in the Concurrent Legislative List can originate
in either House. If passed by the House, in which it is originated,
the Bill is transmitted to the other House and if the Bill is passed
without amendment by the other House it is submitted to the
President for assent.
Reference to Standing Committees
There is a distinction in the case of Bills which are
introduced in the Senate and those which are received from the
National Assembly. In the case of a Bill introduced in the Senate
it is automatically referred to the Standing Committee
concerned. In the case of a Bill received from the National
Assembly it is referred to the concerned Standing Committee,
only if a motion to this effect is adopted.
All motions relating to Bills are decided by the votes of
majority of the members present and voting. However, in the
case of a Bill relating to the amendments in the Constitution it
must be passed by the votes of not less than two-third of the
total membership of the Senate.
10 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT
(i) use the President's name for the purpose of
influencing the debate; or
(j) utter reasonable, seditious or defamatory
words or make use of offensive or un-
parliamentary expressions or which may hurt
the religious susceptibilities of any class or
persons.
Explanation:- In this paragraph, "un-parliamentary
expression" includes any expression which imputes false
motives to a member or charges him with falsehood or is
couched in abusive language.
Mode of Address
A member, desiring to speak on any matter before the
Senate or to raise a point of order or privilege, shall speak only
when called upon by the Chairman to do so. He shall speak from
his place, shall rise when he speaks and shall address the
Chairman. The Chairman may however, permit a member,
disabled by sickness or infirmity, to speak while sitting.
S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 15
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Resolutions

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(xvi) A member while speaking should not- A private resolution must relate to a matter of general

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public interest, primarily concerning the government, and be in
(a) discuss any matter which is subjudice; the form of a declaration of opinion by the Senate.

(b) reflect upon the President in his personal
capacity:
Provided that noting in this paragraph shall
preclude any reference, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution, to the President
in relation to any act done by him in his official
capacity;
(c) discuss the conduct of any judge of the
Supreme Court or of a High Court in the
discharge of his duties;
(d) make a personal charge against a member,
Minister or the holder of a public office, except
in so far as it may be relevant in regard to the
matter before the House;
(e) use his right of speech for the purpose of
willfully and persistently obstructing the
business of the House;
(f ) use offensive expressions about the conduct or
proceedings in the joint sitting, Senate,
National Assembly or a Provincial Assembly;
(g) unnecessarily cast reflection on the conduct of
any person who cannot defend himself before
the House;
A resolution must relate to substantially one definite issue.
The admissibility of a resolution is decided by the Chairman in
his Chamber on the advice of the Secretariat and they are set
down on the Orders of the Day after determining their priority by
balloting. A time limit is fixed for each speech on a resolution.
Motions (Under Rule 194)
Through this motion the policy or situation or statement or
any other matter can be discussed. Such motions are not put to
the vote of the House but are simply debated and talked out.
Constitutional Resolutions
Under Article 89 of the Constitution, the Senate has the
power to pass a resolution for the disapproval of an Ordinance
before its expiry.
Under the Constitution the recommendations of the
National Finance Commission, together with an explanatory
memorandum as to the action taken thereupon, is laid on the
table for discussion in the Senate.
The Constitution further empowers the Senate for
discussion of report of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

(h) reflect on any determination of the House

except on a motion for rescinding it;

14 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 11
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Aand Immunities
APrivileges
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of S
I Members of Senate
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The members have complete freedom of speech in avoid making running commentaries when speeches

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the House and are not liable to any proceedings in any court in
respect of anything said or any vote given by them in Parliament
Rules to be observed by members
while present in the House
Each member is required to observe the following rules and
conventions in the House:-
(i) Members should not read any book, newspapers or
letter except in connection with the business of the
House;
(ii) Members should not interrupt any member while
speaking by disorderly expression or noises or in any
other disorderly manner;
(iii) A Member should bow to the Chair when taking or
leaving his seat;
(iv) A member should not pass between the Chair and any
member who is speaking;
are being made in the House or engage in cross talk;
(ix) Members should not applaud when a stranger enters
any of the galleries or the Special Box except when a
foreign dignitary is specially invited to witness the
proceedings or address the House;
(x) A member should not while speaking make any
reference to the stranger in any of the galleries or the
Special Box except when foreign delegation or a
foreign dignitary is specially invited to witness the
proceedings or addresses the House;
(xi) A member should not occupy a seat in the galleries
nor while in the Chamber engage himself in
conversation with any visitor in a gallery;
(xii) A member shall not use mobile telephone in the
House;
(xiii) A member shall not eat, smoke or chew anything in the
House;
(xiv) A member should make speech relevant to the matter
before the House;

(v) A member should always address the Chair; (xv) A member should not except with the permission of
the Chairman read his speech but may refresh his
(vi) A member should keep to his usual seat while memory by reference to his notes; and
addressing the House;

(vii) Members should maintain silence when not speaking

in the House;

(viii) A member should not obstruct proceedings, and shall

12 S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT S E N AT E S E C R E TA R I AT 13