ISLAMABAD, October 17, 2016: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly passed one bill amid low attendance of lawmakers during the 9^th sitting of its ongoing 21^st session on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 41 minutes behind the schedule with 22 members (18%) present at the start and 31 (25%) at the time of adjournment.

Following are key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation

• The KP Assembly met for 54 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1541 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended entire sitting.
• 22 lawmakers (18%) were present at the start and 31 (25%) at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 35 members (28%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• The Parliamentary Leaders of PML-N and ANP were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Eleven members applied for leave.

Output

• Introduced by a PTI lawmaker, the House passed the KP Urban Mass Transit Bill, 2016.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Sponsored by a JI lawmaker, the House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) to check the sale of unhygienic chips in Malakand Division.
• Another CAN regarding lack of funds to run the buses of a school of special children at Hyatabad Peshawar was not taken up due to absence of relevant minister.
• Two starred questions appearing on the agenda for the day were taken up.

. Order and Institutionalization

• Ten minutes were consumed on two Points of Order.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
•  The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the observers and media.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the KP Assembly proceedings conducted by the United Rural Development Organization (URDO) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted