Balochistan PA: Debate on AM Consumes 88% of Sitting Time

ISLAMABAD, November 14, 2015: Starting 65 minutes behind the scheduled time, the Balochistan Assembly debated an Adjournment Motion (AM) for 88 % (136 minutes) of the sitting time, says Free and Fair Election Network on Saturday.

The House adopted a resolution to ensure maximum benefits to farmers through Prime Minister’s Package announced for them.

Some key observations are as follows:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings 

  • The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 35 minutes
  • The sitting started at 1205 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours
  • Seventeen (26%) lawmakers were present at the start and 19 (29%) at the end of the sitting
  • A maximum of 25 (38%) members attended the sitting
  • The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting
  • The Chief Minister was absent
  • The Leader of Opposition attended the sitting for 40 minutes
  • Parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, ANP, PML-N and PML attended the sitting
  • No minority member attended the sitting
  • Four members applied for leave

Outputs

  • The House adopted a joint resolution to ensure benefits to farmers through Prime Minister’s Package and fix price of `Sali Rice’ at Rs. 1000 per 40 kg.
  • The House passed the Balochistan (Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Amendment Bill 2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The House debated an AM for 88 % (136 minutes) which was about induction at higher posts in Federal departments on fake domiciles under quota of Balochistan.

Order and Institutionalization

  • Three Points of Order consumed five minutes of the sitting.

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 proceeding conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.