ISLAMABAD, April 18, 2014: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly unanimously passed three resolutions while lawmakers also discussed government’s performance in the education sector on Friday during third sitting of 12th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
The resolutions adopted were not included in the agenda. A resolution, jointly sponsored by treasury and opposition, called upon the federal government to hand over the Drug Regulatory Authority to the province. The House also passed another resolution urging the federal government to direct FBR not to reverse the tax amnesty for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province announced by the previous government. In yet another resolution, addressed to the federal government, the House sought blue passports for the civil servants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Nine lawmakers, including four of JUI-F, two of PML-N, one each of ANP, QWP and PTI spoke on the steps taken by the government to improve standard of education in the province. The Provincial Minister for Education concluded the debate that consumed two hours and one minute.
The House also took up three calling attention notices (CANs) related to termination of PARSA employees, encroachments on graveyard lands, and anti-encroachment operation of Galliyat Development Authority (GDA). The first two CANs were referred to the relevant committees.
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The KP Assembly met for five hours and 22 minutes taking two breaks of an hour and 14 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1500 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was absent.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were absent.
- The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, ANP, APML, PPPP, JUI-F and QWP attended the proceedings.
- Forty-nine members were present at the outset, 41 at the adjournment while a maximum of 61 legislators were there at a point during the sitting.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Eight members applied for leave.
Output
- The House adopted three resolutions unanimously. These resolutions were not included in the agenda. The first resolution, jointly sponsored by treasury and opposition, called upon the federal government to hand over the Drug Regulatory Authority to the province. The House passed another resolution urging the federal government to direct FBR not to reverse the tax amnesty for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province announced by the previous government. In yet another resolution, addressed to the federal government, the House sought blue passports for the civil servants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Nine lawmakers, including four of JUI-F, two of PML-N, one each of ANP, QWP and PTI, spoke on the steps taken by the government to improve standard of education in the province. The Provincial Minister for Education concluded the debate that consumed two hours and one minute.
- The House also took up three calling attention notices related to termination of PARSA employees, encroachments on graveyard lands, and anti-encroachment operation of Galliyat Development Authority (GDA). The first two CANs were referred to the relevant committees.
- The House took up 15 of 16 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) while one was withdrawn by the mover himself. The lawmakers asked six supplementary questions as well.
Order and Institutionalization:
- A JUI-F lawmaker spoke on a point of order, pointing out violation of rules as the chair announced leave applications before the question hour.
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