ISLAMABAD, October 1, 2013: The fifth session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was prorogued as the House adopted a resolution on the recent bombings in Peshawar during its second and final sitting, on Tuesday.

The jointly moved resolution condemned the September 22 attacks on the Kohati Gate Church and the two succeeding bomb blasts in Peshawar while urging the government to implement the decisions taken in the All Parties Conference (APC) on eliminating terrorism.

The House held a discussion on the suicide bomb blast on the Kohati Gate Church – the only agenda of the requisitioned session called on the opposition’s request. Fourteen lawmakers including six PTI MPAs, JUIF (four), PMLN (two) and a single member each belonging to PPPP and JI spoke during the debate.

The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting while the parliamentary leaders of ANP and AJIP joined the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly met for four hours. The house observed two prayer breaks consuming 53 minutes.
• The proceedings started at 1605 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1500 Hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and five minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting.
• As many as 41 members were present at the outset while 35 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 47 members were present at one point during the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of ANP and AJIP attended the sitting.
•  The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Twelve members applied for leave.
  

Output

•  The assembly unanimously adopted a joint resolution condemning the Kohati Gate Church blasts and the two succeeding bomb blasts in Peshawar while urging the government to implement the decisions taken in the All Parties’ Conference (APC) on eliminating terrorism.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• Fourteen lawmakers shared their views in the discussion on the bomb blast on the Kohati Gate Church including six PTI MPAs, JUIF (four), PMLN (two) and a single member each belonging to PPPP and JI spoke during the debate.
  

Transparency

• The List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information of members’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of KP Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN a member organization of FAFEN