ISLAMABAD, Sept 5, 2013: The fifth session of the Balochistan Assembly witnessed the passage of two government bills including one amending the local government law to hold the polls for electing local governments on party basis, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its preliminary report.
Additionally the Balochistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill 2013 was passed by the assembly.
The eight-sitting session from August 16 to August 30 lasted for 20 hours and 32 minutes. On average, each sitting met for two hours and 34 minutes witnessing a delay of 40 minutes. The House took one hour and 17 minutes break in its fifth sitting of the session.
Both the Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition attended four sittings each during the session. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker each presided over the session for 41% of the session while the rest of the proceedings were chaired by a Panel of Chairpersons.
On average, a maximum of 33 members attended the sitting whereas 32 legislators were present at the time of start and 25 at adjournment. An ANP legislator pointed out quorum once during the seventh sitting as the proceedings were suspended for 30 minutes.
The draft of the proposed amendments under the 18th amendment in the House rules of procedure was presented by a PkMAP legislator.
The House adopted five resolutions during the session. One of them called on the provincial government to bind the administration of Habibullah Coastal Power Company to run the plant at optimal capacity. Two resolutions called for reducing airfares and resuming international flights to Quetta and reviewing the decision of closing down National Commission for Human Development (NCHD). In the last sitting two resolutions were adopted calling for doing away with illegal speed breakers on the highways, and the construction of Bakhshahpur Highway and connecting it with national highways.
The adjournment motions taken up during the session were on law and order situation in the province – especially suicide blast in Civil Line police station and the breakout of cholera in Zhob.
JUIF legislators staged two walkouts for 51 minutes. The walkouts were staged after the House did not adopt a resolution to give district status to far flung areas of Balochistan and when the Fateha prayer for a JUIF worker was disrupted.
An ANP lawmaker moved a privilege motion against the MPAs of a political party for accusing him in a press conference of inflicting violence on that party’s workers.
Legislators raised 59 point of orders consuming three hour and 58 minutes (19%) of the total session time.
About FAFEN: FAFEN is a network of 42 civil society organizations working to foster democratic accountability in Pakistan. It is governed by Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability.
