Balochistan Assembly Concludes Budget Debate

ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2016: The Balochistan Assembly concluded general discussion on the Provincial Budget for Financial Year 2016-17 during fifth sitting of its 30th session on Saturday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation

  • The Balochistan Assembly met for three hours and three minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1227 hours against scheduled time of 1200 hours.
  • Twenty (31%) lawmakers were present at the start and 38 (59%) at time of adjournment of sitting.
  • The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
  • The post of Deputy Speaker is lying vacant.
  • The Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition attended the entire sitting.
  • Parliamentary leaders of NP, JUI-F, PkMAP, PML-N, MWM, PML and ANP were present.
  • Two minority members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The Chief Minister concluded the Budget debate and speech for 55 minutes while seven other lawmakers– NP (3), PML-N and PkMAP (2 each) – took part in general discussion on Provincial Budget consuming two hours and six minutes of the proceeding.

Order and Institutionalization

  • Two Points of Order consumed two minutes of the proceeding.

Transparency

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

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Balochistan Assembly proceeding conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.