ISLAMABAD, September 4, 2012: Starting 46 minutes late, the fifth sitting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s 27th session met for two hours and 38 minutes on Tuesday. It witnessed low attendance of MPAs. Only 37 (30% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 24 (23%) were there at the adjournment.
The Chief Minister, the Deputy Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting. Only the PPPP and PML parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
Six Points of Order were raised, which consumed 35 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
The Quorum was visible lacking at various stages of the sitting. It was pointed once by an MPA, which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Assembly met for two hours and 38 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1746 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1700 hours. The House proceedings started late by 46 minutes.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting. The Deputy Speaker was not present.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
- Only the parliamentary leaders of the PML and PPPP attended the sitting.
- Thirty-seven Members (30% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 24 (23%) were present when the sitting was adjourned.
- One Minority Member was present during the sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- All five questions appearing on the agenda were taken and responded to by the relevant minister. Additionally, six supplementary questions were also asked.
- Six Calling Attention Notices were taken up by the House.
Output
- No legislative business was conducted during the sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- Six Points of Order were raised, which consumed 35 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
- There is no instance of protest, boycott or walkout during the sitting.
Transparency
- List of Business was available to Legislators, observers and others.
- Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
- The Quorum was visible lacking at various stages of the sitting. It was pointed once by an MPA, which prompted the adjournment of the sitting.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a member organization of FAFEN