ISLAMABAD, May 22, 2015: The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution on Friday, demanding the federal government to resume international flights from Quetta and run Boeing aircrafts on PIA flights to other parts of the country, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The issue was brought up as an adjournment motion and converted into a resolution after the lawmakers debated it for 49 minutes.

The sitting started 35 minutes behind the schedule with 32 lawmakers (49%) present at the start and 23 (35%) at the time of adjournment. The Chief Minister and the Opposition Leader were both present during the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the assembly proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Balochistan Assembly met for one hour and 40 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1635 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• 32 lawmakers (49%) were present at the start and 23 (35%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 36 (55%) members were present at one point of the sitting.
• The sitting was entirely chaired by a member of the Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister attended the entire sitting
• The Opposition Leader was also present.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, ANP, PML-N and MWM were present.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• The House adopted a resolution demanding the federal government to resume international flights from Quetta and restore Boeing aircrafts on PIA flights to other parts of the country.
• The House also considered two resolutions sponsored by a JUI-F lawmaker on upgrading a girls’ high school in Kharan and providing jobs to unemployed engineers. However, the mover did not follow the resolution further after getting an assurance from the Chief Minister to look into the matters.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Seven lawmakers (four from PkMAP, two from PML-N and one MQM member) debated an adjournment motion on PIA that was converted into a resolution for 49 minutes.
• The Chair also admitted an adjournment motion on the arrest of Pakhtuns in Punjab for a discussion in the next sitting.
• The House took up three out of four questions appearing on the agenda, while the lawmakers raised another three supplementary questions during the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five points of order consumed 15 minutes of the sitting.
• The quorum was pointed out by a JUI-F lawmaker but was found to be complete upon counting.

Transparency 

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and the public.
• Information on legislators’ attendance was not available to the observers and the public.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.