ISLAMABAD, May 12, 2014:  The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly passed one bill and witnessed the introduction of four bills during the seventh sitting of 12^th session on Monday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Introduced by a JI lawmaker, the House passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regularization of Services of Adhoc Lecturer Bill 2014.

The House also witnessed the introduction of four bills – the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Usurious Loans Bill 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Amendment Bill 2014.

The House referred the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sensitive and Vulnerable Establishments and Places (Security) Bill 2014 to the select committee which was introduced in the House earlier.

Four lawmakers – one each from JUI-F, ANP, PTI and PPPP – participated in the debate about the preservation of forest and protection of wildlife for 24 minutes.

A PPPP legislator, through a privilege motion, alleged nepotism in the appointment of the Chairmen of Zakat committees at the district level. After mutual consensus between the members of the treasury and the opposition benches, the Chair announced that a 10-member committee, including the Chief Minister, to probe into the matter.

A QWP lawmaker submitted a privilege motion against the suspension of work on Pir Bala-Methra Road in the Warsak Area causing inconvenience for the people especially patients. The Member Communication and Works Department responded to this privilege motion.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The KP Assembly met for four hours and 55 minutes, taking two breaks of an hour and 20 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1545 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 45 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for four hours and 20 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, PPPP, JUI-F, QWP and ANP attended the proceedings.
• Fifty-one members were present at the outset and 45 at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Seven members applied for leave.

Output

• Introduced by a JI lawmaker, the House passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regularization of Services of Adhoc Lecturer Bill 2014.
• The House witnessed the introduction of four bills – the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Usurious Loans Bill 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Amendment Bill 2014.
• The House referred the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sensitive and Vulnerable Establishments and Places (Security) Bill 2014 to the select committee which was introduced in the House earlier.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A QWP lawmaker submitted a privilege motion against the suspension of work on Pir Bala-Methra Road in the Warsak Area causing inconvenience for the people especially patients. The Member Communication and Works Department responded to this privilege motion.

• A PPPP legislator, through a privilege motion, alleged nepotism in the appointment of the chairmen of Zakat committees at the district level. After mutual consensus between the members of the treasury and the opposition benches, the Chair announced that 10-member committee, including the Chief Minister, to probe into the matter.

• A PTI lawmaker sponsored a CAN for the revision of notification regarding recruitment of kith and kins of martyred police personnel in case the brother/son of the deceased personnel is not eligible.

• The House took up all 17 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) and eight of them were responded by the relevant ministries. One supplementary question was also asked.
• Four lawmakers – one each from JUI-F, ANP, PTI and PPPP – participated in a debate about the preservation of forest and protection of wildlife for 24 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The members spoke on seven points of order consuming 11 minutes.
• The whole opposition staged a walkout from the House over alleged nepotism in the appointment of chairmen of Zakat committees.

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