ISLAMABAD, June 24, 2014: The Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance wrapped up general discussion on the provincial budget 2014-15 during 4th sitting of the Balochistan Assembly’s 12th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Seventeen lawmakers- PkMAP (6), NP (5), JUI-F (3), PML-N (2) and PML (one)- took part in the general discussion. They discussed budgetary proposals for four hours.
The opposition leader remained absent from the House during discussion on the provincial budget for 2014-15.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for four hours and 25 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1145 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours, witnessing a delay of 45 minutes.
- Fourteen members were present at the start and 26 at the end of sitting. A maximum of 36 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for four hours while a member of panel of chairpersons presided over the remaining proceedings.
- The Chief Minister attended the entire sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PML, PkMAP, NP and MWM were present.
- Three members applied for leave.
- Two minority members were present during the sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seventeen lawmakers- PkMAP (6), NP (5), JUI-F (3), PML-N (2) and PML (one)- took part in the general discussion on provincial budget 2014-15 that continued for four hours.
- The Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance wrapped up general discussion on the provincial budget and spoke for 14 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- No incident of protest or boycott was observed.
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
