ISLAMABAD, September 18, 2012: Meeting for 60 minutes on Tuesday, the first sitting of the Balochistan Assembly’s 33rd session witnessed low attendance of Members.

Fourteen Members (22% of the total Membership) were present at the start of the sitting while 16 (25%) were there when it was adjourned.

The Balochistan Revenue Bill 2012 was not taken up by the House. The parliamentary leaders of the ANP and BNPA were present. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for 60 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1610 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours. The proceedings started 10 minutes late.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for 55 minutes while the remaining time was presided over by the Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of the ANP and BNPA were present.
• A total of 14 Members (22% of the total Membership of 63) were present at the start while 16 (25%) were there when the sitting was adjourned. A maximum of 17 (27%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• None of the minority Members was present.
• A total of 16 Members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three MPAs – one each of ANP, PML and independent spoke on anti Islam video.
• The House took up a resolution on the anti-Islam video for further discussion in the next sitting.
• All five questions appearing on the Order of the Day were taken up and responded to by the relevant Minister. 

Output

• The Balochistan Revenue Bill 2012 was not taken up by the House  

Order and Institutionalization

• Seven Points of Order were raised which consumed 40 minutes.

• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD), a member organization of FAFEN