ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2014: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly witnessed introduction of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regularization of Services of Ad hoc Lecturers Bill, 2014 during second sitting of the 12th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
Introduced by a legislator of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the bill seeks regularization of the services of the ad hoc lecturers appointed in various colleges of the province.
Five legislators- one each of ANP, JI, PTI, AJIP and PML-N- jointly submitted a privilege motion following a news item appeared in the section of press on March 27, 2014 regarding a letter written by Deputy Commissioner Nowshera to Chief Minister and Commissioner Peshawar against decisions of Public Accounts Committee and return of relief funds by him.
A PTI lawmaker submitted another privilege motion against the misbehavior of two policemen, performing their duty in the jurisdiction of `Kabili’ police station on April 7, 2014.
The House did not take up calling attention notice (CAN) due to the absence of mover (JI lawmaker), regarding non-payment of salary to the personnel of special police force for the last two months deputed at Dir Bala. As the relevant minister was not present, the House did not take up another CAN sponsored by JUI-F legislator regarding financial loss occurring due to the closure of mines in Buner.
Two members raised two points of orders, consuming three minutes of the proceedings.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The KP Assembly met for four hours and 40 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1445 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours, witnessing a delay of 45 minutes.
- The House had three prayer breaks for an hour and 48 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister was not present while the Leader of the Opposition is yet to be nominated due to the resignation of former Opposition Leader Sardar Mehtab Abbasi.
- The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, ANP, PPPP, JUI-F and QWP attended the proceedings.
- Fifty-one members were present at the outset, 22 at the adjournment while a maximum of 82 were there at a point of the sitting.
- Three minority members attended the sitting.
- Four members applied for leave.
Output
- JI lawmaker introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regularization of Services of Ad hoc Lecturers Bill, 2014.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The five legislators- one each from ANP, JI, PTI, AJIP and PML-N- submitted a privilege motion following a news item appeared in section of press on March 27, 2014 regarding a letter written by Deputy Commissioner Nowshera to Chief Minister and Commissioner Peshawar against decisions of Public Accounts Committee and return of relief funds by him.
- PTI lawmaker submitted another privilege motion against the misbehavior of two policemen, performing their duty in the jurisdiction of `Kabili’ police station on April 7, 2014.
- The House did not take up calling attention notice (CAN), due to the absence of the mover (JI lawmaker), regarding non-payment of salaries to the personnel of special police force for the last two months deputed at Dir Bala.
- Due to the absence of relevant minister, the House did not take up another CAN sponsored by JUI-F legislator regarding financial loss occurring due to closure of mines in Buner.
- All 20 Starred Questions (requiring oral as well written answers) on the Orders of the Day were taken up. Additionally, members asked five supplementary questions.
- JUI-F lawmaker spoke for ten minutes about issues in health sector.
Order and Institutionalization
- The members raised two points of order consuming two minutes of the proceedings.
- JUI-F lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1923 hours and the Chair ordered the bells to be rung for two minutes. The Session was adjourned to meet again on April 18 due to lack of quorum.
- Though the Minister for Education was present during Question Hour, the entire opposition staged a walk out from the House at 1516 hours over absence of Secretary Education. They returned to attend the proceedings when Secretary Education came to respond to the questions.
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.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of KP Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN, a member organization of FAFEN