ISLAMABAD, September 17, 2013: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2013 was passed during the sixth sitting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s fourth session, on Tuesday. The bill amends the Provincial Ombudsman Act 2010.

The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.  The Chief Minister did not attend the proceedings while the Leader of the Opposition and the parliamentary leaders of PPPP and AJIP were present.

Two Calling Attention Notices on lack of police stations close to the main road in Madyan, Upper Swat and errors in textbooks being taught in educational institutions were taken up. The notices were tabled by ANP and JUIF MPAs respectively.

A PMLN lawmaker moved a privilege motion on the misbehavior of the Secretary Local Government. The Minister for Local Government assured the MPA that he would address the matter.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members Participation in House Proceedings

·         The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly met for four hours and ten minutes.

·         The proceedings started at 1602 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and two minutes against the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours. The House took two prayer breaks lasting an hour.

·         There were 34 legislators at the outset and the end of the sitting. A maximum of 69 members were present at one point during the sitting.

·         The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.

·         The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for half an hour.

·         The Parliamentary Leaders of PPPP and AJIP attended the sitting.

·         Three minority members attended the sitting.

·         Two members applied for leave.

Output

·         The Law Minister introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2013, which was passed during the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

·         The House took up two Calling Attention Notices on lack of police station close to the main road in Madyan, Upper Swat, and errors in textbooks being taught in educational institutions due to negligence of the textbook board. The notices were tabled by ANP and JUIF MPAs, respectively. A Calling Attention Notice moved by a PPPP member was deferred.

·         A PMLN member submitted a Privilege Motion on the mistreatment of the Secretary Local Government. The Minister for Local Government assured to look into the matter.

·         There were thirteen Starred Questions on the agenda addressed to the Elementary and Secondary Education; Information and Public Relations and Higher Education; and Archives and Libraries Departments. All of them received written answers while six were taken up on the floor for verbal replies. Additionally, lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

·         MPAs spoke on two points of order consuming three minute of the proceedings.

·         No protests/walkouts were registered during the proceedings.

Transparency

·         The List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.

·         Information of members’ attendance was not 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