Session Prorogued
ISLAMABAD, August 30, 2014: The 13th Session of Balochistan Assembly was prorogued sine die after passing one bill and adopting a resolution to condemn killing of journalists in Quetta during the 6th (last) sitting on Saturday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Introduced by the Provincial Minister for Law, the House Passed Balochistan Borstal Institution Bill, 2014. Minister for Tourism also introduced Balochistan Archive Bill, 2014.
Tabled by Provincial Minister for Planning and Development, the House adopted a resolution condemning the killing of journalists in Quetta and demanded arrest of perpetrators of this act at earliest.
JUI-F lawmakers walked out the sitting for 67 minutes over insecure environment for professional journalists and asked the government to book those involved in assassinating three working journalists in Quetta on August 28, 2014.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for four hours and 40 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1150 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours witnessing a delay of 50 minutes.
- The House had a prayer break for 32 minutes.
- Fourteen lawmakers (22%) were present at the outset and 15 (23%) at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 24 (37%) were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and 35 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP and JUI-F attended the sitting.
- Three minority members attended the sitting.
- Three members applied for leave.
Output
- Introduced by the Provincial Minister for Law, the House Passed Balochistan Borstal Institution Bill, 2014.
- Minister for Tourism tabled Balochistan Archive Bill, 2014.
- Tabled by Provincial Minister for Planning and Development, the House adopted a resolution condemning the killing of journalists in Quetta and demanded arrest of perpetrators of this act at earliest.
- Provincial Minister for Law presented Finance Committee Balochistan Provincial Assembly Report 2013-14, Supplementary Annual Monitoring NFC Report from January to June 2013 and Annual Report of Islamic Ideology Council 2010-11.
Order and Institutionalization
- Six points of order consumed 11 minutes of the proceedings’ time.
- JUI-F lawmakers walked out the sitting for 67 minutes over insecure environment for professional journalists and asked the government to book those involved in assassinating three working journalists in Quetta on August 28, 2014.
- A JUI-F lawmaker pointed out the quorum at 1210 hours. The Chair ordered the bells to be rung for five minutes but due to the lack to quorum the sitting was suspended for 31 minutes.
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
