ISLAMABAD, June 26, 2013: The general discussion on the annual budget in the Balochistan Assembly concluded on Wednesday, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet based on the direct observation of the assembly proceedings.

Four members took part in the general discussion on the annual budget. Two members each of PML and PMLN discussed the budgetary proposals for 91 and 30 minutes respectively. The Chief Minister’s 39-minute speech concluded the debate on budget.

Starting 15 minutes late, the fifth sitting of the ongoing second session on Wednesday lasted three hours and 13 minutes. A maximum of 42 members were present at one point of sitting.

The Chief Minister also introduced the Balochistan Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill 2013. The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ participation in House proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for three hours and 13 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1115 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours, witnessing a delay of 15 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire proceedings.
• The Finance Minister attended the entire sitting.
• Forty-two members – the maximum at any one point of the sitting – were present at the outset while 37 were there at the time of adjournment.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• One member applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Four members – two each of PMLN and PML – took part in general discussion on the annual budget. They discussed the budgetary proposals for two hours and one minute. The Chief Minister concluded the debate on budget and spoke for 39 minutes.

Output

• The Chief Minister introduced a bill – The Balochistan Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill 2013 – in the House.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.
• No protest, walkout, or boycott observed during the sitting.

Transparency

• List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was unavailable to 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.