ISLAMABAD, May 11, 2012:  The fourth sitting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s 25th session, which met for two hours and 44 minutes, on Friday passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Bill 2012.   

A total of 34 Members (27% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 37 (30%) were present when the sitting was adjourned. The Chief Minister, the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

All three questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, seven Supplementary questions were raised.

The parliamentary leaders of the PPPP, PML and PPPS attended the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Assembly met for two hours and 44 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1635 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours. The House proceedings started late by 35 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting. The Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were absent.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PPPP, PML and PPPS attended the sitting while PMLN leader was absent.
• A total of 34 Members (27% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 37 (30%) were present when the sitting was adjourned.
• One minority Member was present during the sitting.
• Twelve Members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• All three questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, seven Supplementary questions were asked.
• Four Calling Attention Notices were taken up by the House. These notices were about shortage of teachers in KP, victims of attacks by leopards and cheetahs, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, road tenders being passed and not completed in Upper Dir, and completion of road in Kalam.

Output

• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Bill 2012 was passed by the House. A total of 37 Members were present during the passage of the Bill.

Order and Institutionalization

• Sixteen Points of Order consumed 28 minutes of the sitting time. None of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.  
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.

Transparency

• List of Business was available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a member organization of FAFEN