ISLAMABAD, March 25, 2014: The Balochistan Assembly, on Tuesday, discussed an adjournment motion regarding load shedding of electricity and passed a resolution calling upon the government to reduce power cuts in the province, during fourth sitting of 8th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Eighteen lawmakers, PkMAP (7), PML-N and NP (four each), JUI-F (two) and ANP (one), debated the adjournment motion for two hours and three minutes. Concluding the debate, the Chair ruled that the House adopts the adjournment motion as a resolution.

The House also adopted another resolution regarding restoration of Quetta Thermal Power Supply Station. The Chair constituted a committee comprising movers of the resolution and an opposition lawmaker to supervise the restoration process.

The relevant minister responded to one of the seven starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) appearing on the agenda. Others were disposed of due to absence of movers.

A privilege motion of a female lawmaker belonging to PkMAP was also taken up. The member complained that the principal of Cadet College Qila Saifullah had breached her privilege by sending her a legal notice and demanding to withdraw a letter she had sent to Governor highlighting anomalies in the college affairs.

A JUI-F lawmaker pointed out the quorum, however, the proceedings resumed after the bells were rung for three minutes and the headcount was found complete.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for four hours and 47 minutes, taking a 62-minute long prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1633 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 33 minutes.
• A maximum of forty-two members was present at the outset while 20 were there at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the proceedings for first two hours and 16 minutes while the Deputy Speaker presided over the last one hour and 29 minutes, following the prayer break.
• The Chief Minister was present for three hours and 25 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was there for three hours and 20 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of NP, JUI-F, PML-N, PkMAP, ANP and MWM were present.
• Two minority members were present during the sitting.
• Three members applied for leave.

Output

• The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution calling upon the government to reduce electricity load shedding in the province.
• The House also adopted another resolution regarding restoration of Quetta Thermal Power Supply Station. The Chair constituted a committee comprising movers of the resolution and an opposition lawmaker to supervise the restoration process.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Eighteen lawmakers, PkMAP (seven), PML-N and NP (four each), JUI-F (two) and ANP (one), debated the adjournment motion regarding load shedding of electricity. The debate consumed two hours and three minutes of the proceedings.
• The relevant minister responded to one of the seven starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) appearing on the agenda. The six other questions were disposed of due to the absence of movers.
• A privilege motion of a female lawmaker belonging to PkMAP was also taken up. The member complained that the principal of Cadet College Qila Saifullah had breached her privilege by sending her a legal notice and demanding to withdraw a letter she had sent to Governor regarding anomalies in the college affairs.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised three points of order consuming two minutes of the proceedings.
• A JUI-F lawmaker pointed out the quorum, however, the proceedings resumed after the bells were rung for three minutes and the headcount was found complete.

Transparency

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

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD), a Member organization of FAFEN.