During its sixth session the Balochistan Assembly adopted 14 resolutions on the Peshawar church attack and provincial issues including the Balochistan earthquake, pricing and distribution of gas, communications, financial matters and development projects.

Responding to the twin suicide attacks on a church in Peshawar the assembly adopted a resolution sponsored jointly by the PkMAP, NP and PML-N lawmakers. On other resolutions the House urged the government to ensure relief activities for the victims of the September earthquakes in Balochistan, ensure the eradication of polio and interest based financial system in the province and set up four sugar mills in Dera Allahyar, Sohbatpur, Osta Muhammad and Dera Murad Jamali.

The government was called upon to protect the rights of the local public by eradicating the practice of employing 80% of the Reko Dik project employees from other provinces; and equating the CNG rates charged in Balochistan to other provinces. The House also demanded for the supply of gas to various regions and the immediate construction of Mangi and Helak Dams to meet the water requirement in Quetta city.

In addition to renaming the Balochistan Coast as Behre-Baloch, the House urged the government to bring an end to the Zarai Taraqiati Bank’s (ZTBL) vendetta against landlords belonging to different district in the province. The latter issue was brought in the House again on an adjournment motion during the fifth sitting.

The other two adjournment motions debated during the session were on the line of control violation and indiscriminate firing of Afghan security forces on Pak-Afghan border killing several civilians and Levies officials and the government’s decision to increase petroleum product prices despite their recent fall in the world market.

The session started on September 26 till October 9, 2013 consuming 21 hours and 40 minutes. On average, each sitting lasted three hours and 37 minutes.

The Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition attended two sittings each. The Speaker chaired 69% of the proceedings while the remaining time (19%) was chaired by the members of Panel of Chairpersons. Twelve percent of the session (two hours and 40 minutes) was consumed by five breaks.

The quorum which meets on the presence of 16 MPAs (1/4th of total strength) – generally met during the session. On average, a maximum 36 legislators were present at the beginning and 19 at the end of the proceedings. The three minority members in the Balochistan Assembly attended the entire session.

Eight of 15 starred questions on the agenda were taken up on the floor however only two of them were fully answered – one each by the Ministries of Interior, and Labor and Manpower.

Thirty-three MPAs spoke on 59 points of order, consuming three hours and four minutes – 14% of the total session time. The session witnessed two walkouts; the first, staged by the JUI-F and ANP MPAs, against the lack of agenda on the list of business while the second by PML-N lawmakers over the raid of security forces on a party MPA’s residence.

For complete report click here