ISLAMABAD, January 6, 2014: Amidst the absence of Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, the first sitting of ninth session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly started its proceedings forty-two minutes behind schedule, and remained in session for an hour and 38 minutes, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation.

A JUI-F member raised an adjournment motion on the issues of Drone attacks, kidnapping of doctors and law and order situation in the province, which was taken up by the House.

Two Calling Attention Notices were also taken up by the House. The first one was sponsored by ANP member on lack of medical staff in upper areas of Kalam, district Swat, while the other was raised by QWP legislator on behalf of ANP, citing government’s failure in responding to the issues of KP people.

A PPPP member staged walkout of entire sitting over lack of attention paid by the Speaker. No point of order was raised during the sitting.

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The KP Assembly met for an hour and thirty eight minutes.
• The sitting started at 1542 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 42 minutes.
• The House took prayers break for twenty minutes.
• Speaker chaired the entire proceedings.
• Both the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The Parliamentary leader of JI, APML, QWP, PPPP, AJIP, and ANP were present.
• Forty-three members were there at the outset while 76 at the adjournment.
• A single minority member attended the sitting.
• Five members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Question Hour was not taken up.
• A JUI-F member raised an adjournment motion on the issues of Drone attacks, kidnapping of doctors and law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was taken up by the House.
• Two Calling Attention Notices (CANs) were taken up by the House. The first one was sponsored by an ANP member regarding lack of medical staff in upper areas of Kalam while the other was sponsored by QWP lawmaker on behalf of ANP, citing government’s failure in responding to the issues of KP people.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.
• A PPPP member staged walkout of entire sitting over lack of attention paid by the Speaker.

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.