Debate on promotion of education consumes 63% of sitting time
ISLAMABAD, January 29, 2014: Balochistan Assembly passed one bill and introduced five more in the 8th sitting of its 7th session on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.
Tabled by National Party legislator on behalf of Balochistan Fisheries Minister, the House passed Balochistan Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
Five other bills introduced in the House were Balochistan Chief Minister and Provincial Ministers Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014; Balochistan Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014; Balochistan Assembly Members Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014; Balochistan Service Commission (Amendment) Bill and Balochistan Coastal Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
The House held debate on the promotion of education for three hours and 20 minutes. A total of 23 members- PkMAP (10), JUI-F (5), PML-N and NP (4 each) – took part in the debate.
Balochistan Service Commission (Amendment) Bill introduced in the House was opposed by the opposition members who walked out of the session for seven minutes.
None of the Starred Questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) appearing on the agenda was taken up.
As many as 40 MPAs were present at the outset, while 25 were there at the adjournment of the sitting. The Chief Minister and Leader the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for five hours and 16 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1550 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 50 minutes.
- Forty members were present at the outset while 25 were there at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The House had a prayer break of 38 minutes.
- The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, NP and JUI-F were present.
- Three members applied for leave.
- Two minority members were present during the sitting.
Output
- The House passed Balochistan Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
- Five bills were introduced in the House. These are Balochistan Chief Minister and Provincial Ministers Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014, Balochistan Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014, Balochistan Assembly Members Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2014, Balochistan Service Commission (Amendment) Bill and Balochistan Coastal Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House held debate on the promotion of education in the province for three hours and 20 minutes.
- A total of 23 members- PkMAP (10), JUI-F (5), PML-N and NP (4 each) – took part in the debate.
- None of Starred Questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) appearing on the agenda was taken up.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers spoke on six points of order, consuming 11 minutes of the proceedings.
- The opposition members staged a walkout for seven minutes. They expressed their reservations over reducing the tenure of Chairman Public Service Commission, Balochistan, from five years to three years.
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.
