ISLAMABAD, July 1, 2013: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly adopted four of the five resolutions introduced during the 11^th sitting of the second session as the house witnessed a protest and a walkout on Monday.

The four resolutions adopted by the house were on deportation of Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia, the Jirga of Thor Ghar  – the newly formed district – demanding 23 constitutional rights, the Daewoo bus service refusing to stop for prayer break, and the destruction of Madain Grid Station in recent floods. The fifth resolution against drone attacks was kept pending.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Services Tribunal Ordinance 2013 was also introduced during the sitting which lasted four hours and 19 minutes.

The house took up five starred questions on the agenda. Additionally, MPAs asked six supplementary questions.

The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were not present. All parliamentary leaders of AJIP, APML, ANP, JUIF, PPPP, JI, and QWP attended the sitting.

The entire opposition protested for six minutes as the amendment they proposed in one of the resolutions was not incorporated. A PPPP female staged an 11- minute walkout after she expressed dissatisfaction over a ministerial response to her point of order on law and order situation in the country.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members Participation in House Proceedings

• The KP Assembly met for four hours and 19 minutes. The House took a break of an hour and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1622 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 22 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for six hours and 41 minutes while the Speaker was absent.
• As many as 40 members were present at the outset while 42 were there at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 77 members were present at one point during the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, APML, ANP, JUIF, PPPP, JI, and QWP were present.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The concerned Minister(s)  for the Question Hour was present.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Eight members applied for leave.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• Five Starred questions on the agenda were taken up. Additionally, MPAs asked six supplementary questions.
• The house took up two calling attention notices moved by JUIF and ANP lawmakers about the incomplete Regi Lalma scheme and the damages to Ayub Bridge due to recent torrential rains respectively.

Output

• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Services Tribunal Ordinance2013 was introduced during the sitting.
• The house adopted four of the five resolutions introduced during the sitting. These were regarding deportation of Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia, the Jirga of Thor Ghar – the newly formed district – demanding 23 constitutional rights, the Daewoo bus service refusing to stop for prayer break during travel, and the destruction of Madain Grid Station in recent floods. The fifth resolution against the drone attacks was kept pending.

Order and Institutionalization

• Six points of order consumed 22 minutes of the sitting time.
• The entire opposition protested for six minutes as the amendment they proposed in one of the resolutions was not incorporated. A PPPP female staged an 11-minute walkout to express dissatisfaction on a ministerial response to her point of order on recent law and order incidents in the country.
• A privilege motion moved by a female JUIF MPA was taken up. The motion was about non-implementation of a joint resolution passed by the previous government regarding establishment of a Khyber Bank branch in Samarbagh.

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.

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