ISLAMABAD, May 7, 2012:  The second sitting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s 25th session, which met for two hours and eight minutes, adopted a Resolution on Monday calling for giving the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) representation in the House.

A total of 33 Members (27% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 53 (43%) were present when the sitting was adjourned. The Chief Minister, the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.

The Resolution demanded equal rights for the people of FATA by extending jurisdiction of courts to tribal belt, abolishment of FCR tribunal and representative of FATA in provincial assembly.

Ten out of 16 questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, a total of 21 Supplementary questions were raised.

The parliamentary leaders of the PML and PPPS attended the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Assembly met for two hours and eight minutes.
• The sitting started at 1639 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1600 hours. The House proceedings started late by 39 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting. The Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were absent.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PML and PPPS attended the sitting.
• A total of 33 Members (27% of total Membership) were present at the start, while 53 (43%) were present when the sitting was adjourned.
• One minority Member was present during the sitting.
• A total of 10 Members applied for leave to be absent.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Ten out of 16 questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, a total of 21 Supplementary questions were raised.

Output

• The House adopted a Resolution on FATA. It asked the President and the federal Government to “ensure that the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas should fully enjoy the protection and equally, under and before the law as inalienable right of every citizen under the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the following measures may be adopted: 1. To treat the FATA inhabitants at par with the other citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
  2. To delete clause (7) of Article 247 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan being violated of fundamental rights of the citizens of the area and to intend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court to the said area;
  3. To abolish the newly constituted FCR Tribunal and to establish a proper Judicial Forum;
  4. The Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) may enact laws for FATA and the people of FATA may also get representation in the Provincial Assembly.”
  

Order and Institutionalization

• One Point of Order consumed three minutes.
• An MMAP Member was asked by the Chair to shorten his speech while talking on the Resolution. The MMAP walked out of the House protesting against the Chair’s permission.

Transparency

• List of Business was available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a member organization of FAFEN