ISLAMABAD, November 12, 2016: The Balochistan Assembly adopted two resolutions in the absence of Chief Minister on Saturday, urging the government to provide blue passports to the provincial lawmakers and build residential lodges for them, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during last (5^th) sitting of the 35^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 10 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1130 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The post of Deputy Speaker is lying vacant since December 2015.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the entire proceedings.
• Nineteen lawmakers (28%) were present at the start and 14 (21%) at adjournment of the sitting.
• The Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, ANP, JUI-F and PML were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Three members applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by Advisor to CM on Law and Parliamentary Affairs, the House unanimously adopted a resolution urging the provincial government to contact the federal government on issuance of blue government passports for the members of the Balochistan Assembly. A motion was also passed by the House to constitute a committee in this regard.
• Another resolution, tabled by a PML female lawmaker, urged the provincial government to build MPA Lodges and Ministers’ Enclave to provide better residential facilities for them, which was also adopted.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 13 Points of Order consuming 28 minutes of the proceedings.
• A PML lawmaker walked out of the House at 1153 hours against discriminatory policy of the government in allocating seats to Lady Health Workers in his constituency. However, he came back to the House after 18 minutes.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Attendance of Members was not made 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.