ISLAMABAD, June 14, 2012:  Starting 34 minutes late, the fifth sitting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s 26^th session, which met for four hours and seven minutes, continued debate on budget on Thursday.

Ten MPAs – three from ANP, two each from PMLN and MMA and one each from PPPS, PML and PPPP – spoke on the budget for 152 minutes (62% of sitting time). The Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.

A total of 32 Members (26% of total membership – 124) were present at the start, while 28 (23%) were present when the sitting was adjourned. A maximum of 57 (46%) legislators were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Assembly met for four hours and seven minutes.
• The sitting started at 1734 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1700 hours. The House proceedings started late by 34 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Only the parliamentary leaders of PML and PPPS were present.
• A total of 32 Members (26% of total membership – 124) were present at the start, while 28 (23%) were present when the sitting was adjourned.
• Two minority Members were present during the sitting.
• Four Members applied for leave to be absent.
• The House took 40 minutes break.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Ten MPAs – three from ANP, two each from PMLN and MMA and one each from PPPS, PML and PPPP – spoke on the budget for 152 minutes (      62% of sitting time).

 Output

• No other agenda appeared on the Agenda.

 Order and Institutionalization

• One Point Of Order was raised during the sitting.

• A female PML Member staged a four-minute walkout after exchanging harsh words with a PMLN Member, who also walked out for two minutes over the speech of MMAP legislator on the case of Chief Justice’s son.

  Transparency

• List of Business was available to legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

• Copies of the budget speech were available to the legislators.

 

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