ISLAMABAD, May 16, 2015: The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution on Saturday, urging the government to remove unnecessary check posts that obstruct the transport of goods in the province, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 34 minutes behind the schedule with 20 lawmakers (31%) present at the start and 19 (29%) at the time of adjournment. The Chair admitted an adjournment motion on the attack on JUI-F leaders and Balochistan Assembly’s Opposition Leader and merged it with another motion on a similar subject for a discussion in the next sitting.

The House rejected another resolution that condemned the Federal Information Minister’s statement against religious seminaries. Following are some key observations of the assembly proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for an hour and 26 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1634 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• 20 lawmakers (31%) were present at the start and 19 (29%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 30 (46%) members attended the sitting.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Chief Minister was present for only 12 minutes
• The Opposition Leader was not present.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML and ANP were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Three members applied for leave.

Output

• The House adopted a resolution tabled by a PkMAP leader to remove unnecessary check posts in Chaman, Taftan, Turbat and Panjgur that cause delay in transport of goods in the province. Three lawmakers (two from PkMAP and one NP member) debated the issue for 35 minutes.
• The House rejected a resolution tabled by a JUI-F lawmaker that condemned the Federal Information Minister’s statement against religious seminaries.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Chair admitted an adjournment motion on the attack on JUI-F leaders and Balochistan Assembly’s Opposition Leader and merged it with another motion on a similar subject for a discussion in the next sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• Ten points of order consumed 15 minutes of the sitting.
• The quorum was pointed out twice by a JUI-F lawmaker but was found to be complete upon headcount.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on legislators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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