ISLAMABAD, September 18, 2013: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s forth session was prorogued on Wednesday as the House took up four Call Attention Notices during its seventh and last sitting.

The calling attention notices were about the increase in installments of the government employees’ housing scheme plots in Jalozai, status of acid and burn crime bill pending with the Law Ministry, sacking of 700 employees of Labor and Welfare Ministry without notifications and the University of Engineering and Technology’s charging four semester’s fee in advance.

The House also debated an adjournment motion regarding traffic problems caused by 65 trucks parked on a road in district Manehra. Another adjournment motion about the Health Department was not taken up.

A minority member presented a resolution recommending a 5% increase in the quota for minorities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa universities as already being observed in other provinces and the Center.

The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting of four hour and 16 minutes. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting while the parliamentary leaders of PPPP, AJIP and QWP were present.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

·         The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly met for four hours and 16 minutes. The house observed two prayer breaks consuming 65 minutes.

·         The proceedings started at 1544 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1500

Hours, witnessing a delay of 44 minutes.

·         The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.

·         As many as 25 members were present at the outset while 44 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 69 members were present at one point during the sitting.

·         The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, AJIP and QWP attended the sitting.

·          The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

·         Three minority members attended the sitting.

·         Four members applied for leave.

Output

·          A resolution was presented calling for a 5% increase in the quota of minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa universities as already being observed in other provinces and the Center. The resolution was moved by a PMLN member.

Representation and Responsiveness

·         The House took up four calling attention notices on the increase in the payment installment’s of plots in government employees’ housing scheme in Jalozai, status of acid and burn crime bill pending with law ministry, sacking of 700 Ministry of Labor and Welfare employees without notifications and the charging of advance fee for four semesters by the University of Engineering and Technology.  These notices were moved by JI, PMLN, PPPP and PMLN lawmakers respectively.

·         Five members debated an adjournment motion for 23 minutes on the traffic problems caused by 65 trucks parked on a road in district Mansehra. Another adjournment motion on the agenda regarding the Health Department was not taken up.

·         Out of 12 starred questions on the agenda, eight were taken up and responded on the floor. Additionally, members asked eight supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

·          The quorum was pointed out by JUI-F MPA. The Chair directed the assembly bells to be rung for five minutes and the proceedings resumed afterwards when the quorum was found complete.

·         Lawmakers raised two Points of Orders consuming six minutes of the sitting. 

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