ISLAMABAD, August 18, 2015: The Balochistan Assembly could not take up any of the questions on its agenda due to ministerial absence and consumed 40% of last sitting’s time on points of order, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Tuesday.
The sitting started 88 minutes behind the schedule with 26 lawmakers (40%) present at the start and 24 (37%) at the time of adjournment. The House adopted a resolution to establish new administrative Division `Rakshan’ comprising four districts of Chaghi, Noshki, Kharan and Washak. It also demanded to set up such Divisions in other parts of the province to ensure progress in various regions.
Following are some key observations of the assembly proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 17 minutes
- The sitting started at 1228 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours
- 26 lawmakers (40%) were present at the start and 24 (37%) at the end of the sitting
- A maximum of 33 (51%) members attended the sitting
- The entire sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker
- The Chief Minister and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and PML attended the sitting
- Two minority members attended the sitting
- Three members applied for leave
Output
- The House adopted a resolution to establish new administrative Division `Rakshan’ comprising four districts of Chaghi, Noshki, Kharan and Washak
Representation and Responsiveness
- The question hour was not held due to the absence of Minister for Health
- The Chair admitted an Adjournment Motion (AM) for debate during the next session regarding attack on a PML-N lawmakers’ brother
Order and Institutionalization
- Eight points of order consumed 55 minutes (40%) of the sitting
- No protests/boycotts/walkouts were witnessed
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others
- Information on legislators’ attendance was not available to the observers and public
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This 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 excepted.