ISLAMABAD, August 22, 2013: The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution on taking action against a power plant for not providing electricity under the agreement in its third sitting of the fifth session on Thursday.

The resolution to take action against a power plant for providing 70-80 MW electricity against the agreement of 124 MW was adopted. A JUI-F legislator staged a walkout when a resolution calling for giving district status to far flung areas of Balochistan was not adopted.

The Speaker chaired the entire sitting lasting for two hours and 29 minutes. Similarly the Chief Minister also attended the entire sitting.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for two hours and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1140 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes against the scheduled start time of 1100 hours.
• Thirty-four Members were present at the outset of the sitting and 36 at the end. A maximum of 34 Members were present at one point of the sitting.
• The entire sitting was chaired by the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The Chief Minister attended the entire sitting.
• The Leader of Opposition was present.
• Only the Parliamentary Leader of JUI was present.
• Two Members applied for leave.
• Three Minority Members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A resolution to take action against Habibullah Coastal power plant for providing 70-80 MW electricity to Balochistan government against the agreement of 124 MW was adopted. However a resolution on providing district status to far flung areas of Balcohistan was not adopted.
• A draft of “amendments under 18th amendment in Balochistan Provincial Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 1974” was laid before the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five Points of Orders consumed nine minutes.
• A JUIF legislator staged a walkout from the sitting at 1351 hours after a resolution calling for giving district status to far flung areas of Balochistan was not adopted.

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.