ISLAMABAD, May 13, 2014:  Starting an hour and 30 minutes late, the last sitting of the 12th session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly witnessed low attendance of MPAs as only 39 were present at the outset and 37 at the adjournment of the sitting, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the legislators.

Three Points of Order were raised during the sitting which consumed 32 minutes of the sitting time. A Calling Attention Notice (CAN) about non-completion of work in Reigi Model Town Peshawar and Land Encroachment in Reigi Model Town Zone-5 was taken up and responded.

The Chief Minister attended the sitting for two hours and 35 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was there for four hours and 10 minutes. The session was prorogued.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The KP Assembly met for four hours and 55 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1530 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 30 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker was not present during the sitting.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for two hours and 35 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was there for four hours and 10 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of AJIP, PPPP, JUIF, QWP and ANP were present.
• Thirty-nine members were present at the outset and 37 at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Two minority members attended the sitting.
• Nine members applied for leave.
• The House two breaks consuming an hours and 52 minutes.

Output

• The Senior Minister for Finance presented the reports of the Auditor General of Pakistan on Accounts of 25 districts governments of KP for the year 2012-13 which were forwarded to the Standing Committee of Public Accounts.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A Calling Attention Notice (CAN) about non-completion of work in Reigi Model Town Peshawar and Land Encroachment in Reigi Model Town Zone-5 was taken up and responded.
• The other CAN appearing on the Agenda was not taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

• Three Points of Order were raised which consumed 32 minutes of the sitting time.
• The opposition members staged two walkouts from the House – the first over the remarks of the Provincial Minister for Education against an ANP lawmaker, and the second over a ban on wheat transportation by the Punjab government.

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 quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the legislators.

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