ISLAMABAD, November 29, 2014: The Balochistan Assembly passed two resolutions in its first sitting of the 15th session on Saturday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.
The House unanimously passed a joint amended resolution to condemn the killings of JUI-F Sindh Secretary General Khalid Mehmood Soomro and polio besides condemning the suicide attack targeting JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. A total of 12 members spoke on the resolution for an hour and 14 minutes. Four lawmakers belonged to the JUI-F; two each from PML-N, PkMAP and NP and one each from ANP and PML.
The second resolution was moved by minority member William John Barkat to condemn the killing of a Christian couple in Kasur.
The House debated the deteriorating law & order situation in the province during the sitting in which one member each from JUI-F, ANP and PML spoke for an hour and seven minutes.
Forty legislators were present at the start of the sitting and 30 at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 43 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting. The entire proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:
- The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 57 minutes.
- The sitting began at 1638 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 38 minutes.
- The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as the Speaker was absent.
- The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader attended the sitting
- As many as 40 legislators were present at the start of the sitting and 30 at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 43 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, JUI-F, PML, PkMAP, PML-N and NP were present in the sitting.
- Thee minority members were also present in the sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House unanimously passed a joint amended resolution to condemn the killings of JUI-F Sindh Secretary General Khalid Mehmood Soomro and polio workers besides condemning the suicide attack targeting JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
- The House passed another resolution moved by minority member William John Barkat to condemn the killing of a Christian couple in Kasur.
Order and Institutionalization
- The MPAs raised four points of order that consumed five minutes of the proceedings’ time.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
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The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are regretted.