ISLAMABAD, March 08, 2013: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, which met for an hour and 22 minutes in the 4^th sitting of 30^th session, passed six bills. The sitting was marked by low attendance.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial Statistics Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minimum Wages Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Books Registration Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2013; and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Foodstuff (control) (Amendment) Bill 2013 were the passed bills.

Two bills – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection (Amendment) Bill 2013 – were introduced.

The sitting was marked by low attendance as only 33 members were present at the outset and 32 at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 38 were present at one point of the sitting.

The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the parliamentary leaders of PMLN, PPPS and PPPP did not attend the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The KP Assembly met for an hour and 22 minutes. There was a 28-minute break.
• The sitting started at 1630 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of only PML was present whereas those of PMLN, PPPS and PPPP were absent.
• Thirty-three members were present at the outset whereas 32 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 38 were present at one point of the sitting.
• One minority member attended the sitting.
• One member applied for leave. 

Representation and Responsiveness

• The three starred questions appearing on the agenda were not taken up and kept pending. 

 

Output

• The House passed six bills. These were: the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial Statistics Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minimum Wages Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Books Registration Bill 2013; the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2013; and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Foodstuff (control) (Amendment) Bill 2013.
• Two bills – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection (Amendment) Bill 2013 – were introduced.
• An ANP member raised a privilege motion against registrar of a cooperative society for delaying of election despite the directives of the concerned minister. It was referred to the concerned committee. 

Order and Institutionalization

• There was no instance of protest, boycott or walkout. 

Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• The members’ attendance record was not made public.

 

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of KP Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a member organization of FAFEN