ISLAMABAD, August 20, 2014: The PML-N lawmakers staged a walkout over the remarks of Chief Minister against their party’s decision to de-seat the sole minority member during the second sitting of 13th session of the Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The Minister for Archives and Museum introduced the Balochistan Archives Bill 2014 while the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs tabled an annual report of the Islamic Ideology Council for the year 2009-10.
The House also admitted an adjournment motion, moved by a JUI-F lawmaker, seeking a debate on the spread of Congo virus in Qilla Saifullah that has claimed 15 lives so far. The sitting was adjourned for 1100 hours on Saturday.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for 50 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1640 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
- Forty-six lawmakers (71%) were present at the outset and 34 (52%) 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 and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, PML-N, PML, NP, PkMAP and JUI-F attended the sitting.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- Minister for Archives and Museum introduced the Balochistan Archives Bill 2014.
- Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs tabled an annual report of the Islamic Ideology Council for the year 2009-10.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The PML-N lawmakers staged a walkout over the remarks of the Chief Minister against their party’s decision to de-seat the sole minority member.
Order and Institutionalization
- Two members spoke on two points of order consuming 3 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
