KP Assembly takes up a bill, two CANs

ISLAMABAD, January 21, 2014: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly took up two calling attention notices and a bill on Private Members day during ninth sitting of its ongoing session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

A calling attention notice about violation of merit in appointments of medical technician and pathologist in Bannu sponsored by JUI-F legislator and another regarding regularization of employees of Zakat Audit department sponsored jointly by a JUI-F lawmaker and ANP MPA were taken up on floor of the House.

A bill namely KP Tibb and Homeopathic Employees Regularization of Services Bill, 2014 was introduced by a JI legislator. The members denied a JUI-F parliamentarian the leave to introduce KP Appointment of Certain Projects Employees Bill, 2014. Also, the amendments to Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in KP Assembly, 1986 could not be introduced. This caused rumpus in the House leading to the adjournment of the session till Wednesday (tomorrow).

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

  • The KP Assembly met for three hours and 12 minutes. The House took two prayer breaks for an hour and 12 minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1530 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
  • The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as the Speaker did not attend the proceedings.
  • The Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
  • The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP and ANP attended the proceedings.
  • Fifty members were present at the outset while 61 were there at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 62 members were found to be present at a point during the sitting.
  • Three minority members attended the sitting.
  • Eight members applied for leave.

Output:

  • A JUI-F legislator introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tibb and Homeopathic Employees Regularization of Services Bill, 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness:

  • All nine Starred Questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, members asked three supplementary questions.
  • A calling attention notice about violation of merit in appointments of medical technician and pathologist in Bannu sponsored by JUI-F lawmaker and another regarding regularization of employees of Zakat Audit department sponsored jointly by a JUI-F lawmaker and ANP parliamentarian were taken up on floor of the House.
  • JUI-F legislator spoke on an adjournment motion for eight minutes regarding difficulties being faced by citizens due to repair works being carried out at Peshawar-Kohat Road.

Order and Institutionalization:

  • The House witnessed disorder when the leave to introduce amendments to Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in KP Assembly, 1986 was denied leading to the adjournment of the session.

Transparency:

  • ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
  • Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.

 

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