ISLAMABAD, February 24, 2014: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday held discussion on distribution of development and local government fund in the province, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

Seven lawmakers participated in the debate which continued for an hour and six minutes. Two lawmakers from JUI-F and one each from PPPP, ANP, PTI, PML-N, QWP took part in the debate.

Thirty-seven (37) members were present at the outset, 48 at the adjournment and maximum 55 at a point during the proceedings.

The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings. Parliamentary leaders of ANP, QWP, AJIP, PPPP and JUI-F were present.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The KP Assembly met for four hours and 20 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1540 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
• The House took two prayer breaks consuming an hour and 10 minutes of the proceedings.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 50 minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
• The parliamentary leaders of ANP, QWP, AJIP, PPPP and JUI-F attended the sitting.
• Thirty-seven (37) members were present at the outset, 48 at the adjournment and maximum 55 at a point during the proceedings.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Eight members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness:

• Seven lawmakers participated in the debate regarding distribution of development and local government fund in the province which continued for an hour and six minutes.
• Two lawmakers from JUI-F and one each from PPPP, ANP, PTI, PML-N, QWP took part in the debate.
• Fifteen out of 19 Starred Questions (requiring oral answers) on the Orders of the Day were taken up on floor of the house and eleven of them were responded to.  Additionally, members asked three supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• Lawmakers spoke on five points of order consuming 28 minutes.
• No instance of protest, walkout or boycott was witnessed during the sitting.

Transparency:

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

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of KP Assembly proceedings conducted by PAIMAN, a member organization of FAFEN