Balochistan Assembly Discusses Law and Order

ISLAMABAD, June 02, 2016: The Balochistan Assembly discussed law and order in the province especially abduction of son of  Provincial Minister for Local Bodies during the single-sitting 29th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.

The sitting of the requisitioned session started 90 minutes behind the schedule with 24 lawmakers (37%) present at the start and 15 (23%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for the entire sitting.

The House discussed the kidnapping case of Asad Khan Tareen, the son of Provincial Minister for Local Bodies in Balochistan Sardar Mustafa Tareen. Seventeen lawmakers spoke on the issue for 285 minutes.

A newly elected PML-N MPA took the oath.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

  • The Balochistan Assembly met for six hour and 15 minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1730 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
  • The House had a prayer break for 40 minutes.
  • Twenty-four lawmakers (37%) were present at the start of the sitting and 15 (23%) at the time of adjournment.
  • A maximum of 33 (51%) members were present at one point of the sitting.
  • The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
  • The post of Deputy Speaker is lying vacant.
  • The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for the entire sitting.
  •  The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML and JUI-F attended the sitting.
  • One minority member was present.
  • Three members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The House had a discussion on kidnapping case of Asad Khan Tareen, the son of Provincial Minister for Local Bodies in Balochistan Sardar Mustafa Tareen.  Seventeen lawmakers – PkMAP (8), NP (5), JUI-F (3) and PML (one) –spoke on the issue for 285 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

  • Six Points of Order consumed eight minutes of the sitting.

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.