ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2013: Fourteen members discussed the budgetary proposals for four hours and 36 minutes in the fourth sitting of the Balochistan Assembly’s second session on Tuesday, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet based on the direct observation of the assembly proceedings.
Four each of JUIF and PMAP, three of NP, two of PMLN and one of MWMP took part in budget debate.
Starting 16 mintues late, the sitting lasted six hours and nine minutes. A maximum of 34 MPAs (52% of the total membership) were present at one point of sitting. Thirty-one members were present at the start while 27 were there at the time of adjournment.
The Speaker chaired the sitting. The Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Finance Minister attended the entire proceedings.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ participation in House proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for six hour and nine minutes. The House took a break of an hour and nine minutes.
- The sitting started at 1116 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours, witnessing a delay of 16 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire proceedings.
- The Finance Minister attended the entire sitting.
- Thirty-one members were present at the outset while 27 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 34 members were present at one point of sitting.
- Three minority members attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
Representation and Responsiveness
- A total of 14 members – four each of JUIF and PMAP, three of NP, two of PMLN and one of MWMP – took part in general discussion on the annual budget. They discussed the budget for four hours and 36 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Two points of order consumed seven minutes of the sitting time.
- No protest, walkout, or boycott observed during the sitting.
Transparency
- List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD), a Member organization of FAFEN.