Session Prorogued
ISLAMABAD, May 22, 2014: The Balochistan Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to express solidarity with the victims of heavy rains and hailstorm recently lashed throughout the province causing huge loss of lives and property. The legislators also urged the government to declare these areas as calamity-hit during 4th sitting of its 10th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
The Speaker adjourned the sitting for eight minutes to convert an adjournment motion into a joint resolution regarding loss of lives and property of people in Lasbela and its adjoining areas.
The House also adopted another resolution moved by another PML-N leader regarding up-gradation of a boys’ college and establishment of a girls’ college in Duki. However, two other resolutions were deferred as their movers were not present in the House.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Balochistan Assembly met for an hour and 37 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1653 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours, witnessing a delay of 53 minutes.
- Twenty-eight members were present at the outset while 20 were there at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 32 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister as well as the Leader of the Opposition were absent from the House.
- No parliamentary leader was present in the House.
- Three members applied for leave.
- Two minority members were present during the sitting.
Output
- Introduced by a PML-N lawmaker, the House unanimously passed a resolution to express solidarity with the victims of heavy rains and hailstorm recently lashed throughout the province, causing huge loss of lives and property. The House also urged the government to declare these areas as calamity-hit.
- The Assembly adopted another resolution moved by another PML-N leader regarding up-gradation of a boys’ college and establishment of a girls’ college in Duki.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven starred questions (requiring written as well as oral answers) on the agenda were deferred as the movers and the relevant ministers were absent from the House.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers raised nine points of order consuming 31 minutes of the sitting.
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
