ISLAMABAD, May 28, 2014: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly could not hold its discussion on health issues and law & order due to walkouts by the opposition as well as treasury members, on Wednesday during first sitting of 13th session, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.
The Provincial Assembly adopted three resolutions as well. The first resolution sponsored by a PTI minority lawmaker called upon the Sindh government to arrest and punish the desecrators of religious book of Sikhism. The second resolution by a JUI-F legislator sought reimbursement of arrears by federal government for using the KP’s share of water as per the water accord of 1991. Another lawmaker of JUI-F urged the federal government to provide electricity produced by recently completed Khankhwar Dam and Bukairkhwar Dam to the local population.
The House took up a calling attention notice, sponsored by a female legislator of PTI, regarding non payment of property tax by a cement factory. The concerned parliamentary secretary responded to the notice.
Five lawmakers spoke on points of order consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings. A JUI-F lawmaker walked out of the House against abolishing quota of MPAs in appointments on Grade 4 jobs. The opposition parties followed the legislator and stayed out of the House for 20 minutes. The opposition as well as treasury members again walked out after a member raised the issue of defamation campaign against Deputy Speaker of the House. Following the walkout, the Chair announced break for ten minutes but the House could not assemble for two hours and 28 minutes.
The Chair announced four members of panel of chairpersons and constituted six-member committee on petitions.
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The KP Assembly met for four hours and 10 minutes taking a break for two hours and 28 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1540 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were absent.
- The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, ANP, PML-N and QWP attended the proceedings.
- Thirty-two members were present at the outset and 39 at the adjournment while a maximum of 61 were there during the proceedings.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Six members applied for leave.
Output
- The Provincial Assembly adopted three resolutions as well. A resolution, sponsored by a minority lawmaker belonging to PTI, called upon Sindh government to arrest and punish the desecrators of religious book of Sikhism. The second resolution by a JUI-F legislator sought reimbursement of arrears by federal government for using the KP’s share of water according to the water accord of 1991. Another lawmaker of JUI-F demanded federal government to provide electricity produced by recently completed Khankhwar Dam and Bukairkhwar Dam to the local population.
Representation and Responsiveness:
- The House took up a calling attention notice, sponsored by a female legislator of PTI, regarding non payment of property tax by a cement factory.
Order and Institutionalization:
- Five lawmakers spoke on points of order consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings.
- A JUI-F lawmaker walked out of the House against abolishing quota of MPAs in appointments on Grade 4 jobs. The opposition parties followed the legislator and stayed out of the House for 20 minutes.
- The opposition as well as treasury members again walked out after a member raised the issue of defamation campaign against Deputy Speaker of the House. Following the walkout, the Chair announced break for ten minutes but the House could not assemble for two hours and 28 minutes.
Transparency:
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of KP Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN, a member organization of FAFEN
