Analysis: K-P assembly sessions marred by absence of ministers

Questions, point of orders delayed; opposition parties stage walkout.

PESHAWAR: Towards the end of its tenure, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assembly seems to be facing an attention deficit from ministers and lawmakers alike.

During the first two days of the session, which resumed last Monday, only a few ministers turned up at the house. Attendance of ministers from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which currently holds at least 11 cabinet portfolios in the provincial cabinet, was also nominal. During Friday’s session, the situation improved when some ministers, including the PPP’s provincial chief Anwar Saifullah Khan, turned up at the house.

Opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani, parliamentary leader of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Sikandar Sherpao and senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour were also conspicuously absent.



The lack of interest from the politicians is seen to have a regressive quality as questions, point of orders and other matters are getting delayed only due to the absence of concerned ministers.

On Monday, four bills, the K-P Medical Transplantation Authority Ordinance 2012, the Elimination of Custom of Ghag Ordinance 2012, K-P Payment of Wages bill 2012 and K-P Private Schools Regulatory Authority bill 2012, were introduced in the house.

However, bills for organ transplants and private school’s regulatory authorities were later referred to committees for further discussion, while two other bills are likely to be presented before the house in the days to come.

A clear lack of interest in assembly proceedings is evident from the provincial health minister’s absence, despite the fact that the house was to take up the Organ Transplant Regulatory Authority bill.

The minister for higher education was also nowhere to be seen during the three days of assembly proceedings.

From next Monday, the assembly will have 46 more days to complete the required number of days of its parliamentary year.

On Tuesday, opposition parties protested against what they termed a ‘lack of interest’ of the treasury benches. This unanimous decision was made redundant when JUI-F and other parties returned, while Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and PML-Q members were left out of the proceedings. Members of both parties staged a walkout on Friday and were later joined by other opposition members.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2012.