ISLAMABAD, October 4, 2013: The Balochistan Assembly adopted two resolutions amid Private Member’s day in its fourth sitting of sixth session on Friday.

Legislators of PkMAP and PML-Q moved two resolutions about the delay in construction of Mangi and Helak Dams and supply of gas to Quetta city. The House discussed the resolution on construction of dams for two hours and 56 minutes. An adjournment motion on the petroleum and electricity price hike was approved for discussion in the next sitting.

The Speaker chaired the entire sitting while Deputy Speaker did not attend the proceedings. Chief Minister was there for three hours and 20 minutes, whereas the Leader of Opposition was not present.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for three hours and 45 minutes. The House took a 38 minutes prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1555 hours against the scheduled start time of 1530 hours, witnessing a delay of 25 minutes.
•  There were a maximum of 36 Members at the time of commencement and 28 when the sitting was adjourned.
• Speaker presided over the entire sitting whereas and Deputy Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for three hours and 20 minutes while Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
• The Parliamentary Leaders of PML-Q (opposition and government), MWM, NP and PkMAP were present.
• Three Members applied for leave.
• Three minority Members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• There were no questions on the agenda.
• Two out of four resolutions on the orders of the day were presented and adopted in the House. A PML-Q legislator presented a resolution over the delay in construction of Mangi and Helak Dams necessary to fulfill the water requirement of Quetta city. Fifteen members debated the resolution for almost two hours (one hour and 56 minutes). The other resolution presented by PkMAP Member was on the supply of Gas to Quetta from Zarghoon Gas Field through an unsafe area and contracts being given to non-local contracts while neglecting the local contractors. Two resolutions on the agenda were not taken up in the House.
• A female JUI-F legislator tabled an adjournment motion about the petroleum and electricity price hike. The House approved the adjournment motion for debate in the next sitting of the session.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on four points of order consuming 31 minutes of the proceedings.
• No incidents of protests/walkouts/boycotts were observed.

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.

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.