ISLAMABAD, August 18, 2014: The Balochistan Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the ongoing sit-ins by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) during the first sitting of 13th session on Monday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The resolution, jointly moved by PML-N, PkMAP, PML-Q and NP, termed the demands of PTI and PAT leaders insult to the public mandate. Seventeen lawmakers – PkMAP (5), PML-N (4), JUI-F (3), PML-Q and NP (2 each) and MWM (1) – spoke on the resolution for an hour and 43 minutes.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for three hours and 9 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1626 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours witnessing a delay of 26 minutes.
- Forty-one lawmakers (63%) were present at the outset and 42 (64%) at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 46 (71%) were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- The Leader of the House attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition remained absent.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, NP, MWM, PkMAP and PML attended the sitting.
- One minority member attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- The House unanimously passed a resolution condemning the ongoing sit-ins by PTI and PAT and termed their demands extra-constitutional.
Representation and Responsiveness
- A resolution jointly moved by PML-N, PkMAP, PML and NP termed the demands by PTI and PAT leaders insult to the public mandate.
- Seventeen lawmakers – PkMAP (5), PML-N (4), JUI-F (3), PML-Q and NP (2 each) and MWM (1) – spoke on the resolution for an hour and 43 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Five members spoke on as many points of order consuming 6 minutes of the proceedings’ time.
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
