Points of Order Dominate Balochistan Assembly’s Proceedings

Question Hour not observed due to absence of mover

ISLAMABAD, January 6, 2017: The Balochistan Assembly did not observe Question Hour due to absence of mover while Points of Order consumed 60% of the proceedings time, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Friday.

Following are key observations of the first proceedings of 36^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Balochistan Assembly met for an hour and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1612 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Chief Minister also attended the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Fifteen lawmakers (23%) were present at the start and 25 (38%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML-N, PML and MWM were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Eighteen members applied for leave.

Output

• Annual report of Balochistan Public Service Commission for the year 2015 was presented in the House.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House passed a motion to fill vacant posts in three Standing Committees.
• The House did not observe Question Hour. All five Starred Questions were deferred on the request of the mover who didn’t attend the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on 13 Points of Order, consuming 57 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Attendance of Members was not made public.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.

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