ISLAMABAD, August 23, 2014: The Balochistan Assembly passed one bill and adopted a resolution during the third sitting of 13th session on Saturday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Introduced by the Minister for Archives and Museum, the House passed the Balochistan Archives Bill 2014. The Minister for Law and the Minister for Archives and Museum also introduced the Balochistan Borstal Institutions Bill 2014 and the Balochistan Artifacts Bill 2014 respectively, which were referred to the relevant committees.
The House adopted a resolution tabled by the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs against the demands of leaders leading marches and sit-in at Islamabad urging three other provincial assemblies to adopt such resolutions.
Eight lawmakers – PkMAP (3), two each of NP, JUI-F and ANP (one) – participated in a debate on the resolution that continued for two hours and 11 minutes. The sitting was adjourned for 1600 hours on Monday.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 57 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1140 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
- Twenty-six lawmakers (40%) were present at the outset and 32 (49%) at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 33 (51%) were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- The Speaker and Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
- A member of panel of chairpersons chaired the entire sitting.
- The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present during entire sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of ANP, PkMAP and JUI-F attended the sitting.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Five members applied for leave.
Output
- Introduced by the Minister for Archives and Museum, the House passed the Balochistan Archives Bill 2014.
- The Minister for Law and the Minister for Archives and Museum introduced the Balochistan Borstal Institutions Bill 2014 and the Balochistan Artifacts Bill 2014 respectively which were referred to the relevant committees.
- The House adopted a resolution against the demands of those leading marches and sit-in at Islamabad urging three other provincial assemblies to adopt such resolutions.
- Eight lawmakers – PkMAP (3), two each of NP, JUI-F and ANP (one) – participated in a debate on a resolution that continued for two hours and 11 minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- Four points of order consumed 7 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
