ISLAMABAD, January 13, 2017: The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan adopted three resolutions and referred an amendment to the Rules of Procedure to relevant committee during Private Members’ Day on Friday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are key observations of the fourth sitting of 36^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Balochistan Assembly met for three hours and three minutes.
• The sitting started at 1603 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Speaker and Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
• The entire sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for an hour and seven minutes.
• Seventeen lawmakers (25%) were present at the outset while ten (15%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of JUI-F, NP, PML and ANP were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Five members applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by a PkMAP lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution urging the Federal Government to fill the vacant posts and restore the dismissed employees of the Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan.
• The House adopted another resolution calling for ban on Pakistan International Airline (PIA) planes which are in dilapidated condition and decrease in fares. The resolution was tabled by a member belonging to PkMAP and six lawmakers expressed their views on it, consuming 33 minutes of the proceedings.
• The House adopted a resolution tabled by female lawmaker belonging to PkMAP to pay tribute to the Chief Minister and his cabinet for assurance given by him on floor of the House about providing employment opportunities to youth on around 26,000 vacant posts in various public departments within 90 days. Six lawmakers expressed their view on it consuming 25 minutes of the proceedings.
• Tabled by PkMAP lawmaker, the House disposed of a resolution demanding the provincial government to replace the word ‘Grant’ in Section A-14 of the Balochistan Residential Colleges Act, 2005 with ‘Regular Budget’. Six lawmakers spoke on it for 16 minutes.
• The House referred an amendment to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Balochistan Assembly 1974, moved by a lawmakers belonging to PkMAP proposing to empower the Standing Committees to constitute Sub-Committees.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Seven out of ten Starred Questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers.
• The House referred a Privilege Motion (PM) raised by lawmaker belonging to PkMAP to relevant standing committee. Nine lawmakers spoke on the subject consuming 32 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on three Points of Order consuming as many minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Attendance of Members was not made 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.