QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly has failed to make any noteworthy legislation during its second parliamentary year, while assembly sessions also witnessed a decrease as compared to last year, claimed a report from the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat).
The second parliamentary year for the provincial assembly started on June 1, 2014 and ended on May 31, 2015. During the year, attendance from legislators stood at 58 per cent, while the Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch, attended 70pc of the sessions according to the report.
Leader of the opposition, Maulana Abdul Wasay attended 54pc of the sessions.
The report also said that standing committees, which play an important role in strengthening of democratic institutions, could not be made fully functional during the second parliamentary year. Standing committees were formed after an eight month delay due to delaying tactics by the coalition partner, claimed the report.
"Attendance does not matter, this government has failed to address the grievances of the masses,” said Maulana Wasay while commenting on the report.
Read: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly fares badly on attendance
Unlike the first parliamentary year, legislators spent 32pc less time discussing the budget for fiscal year 2015 – 2016. Opposition parties had also boycotted the budget session, over allegations that the government was ignoring opposition constituencies in the budget.
However, the chief minister succeeded in convincing the opposition to rejoin the session later.
“When performance is zero, mere attendance is useless,” said a legislator from Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F).
During the secondary parliamentary year, number of assembly sessions decreased by 13pc, legislation decreased by 36pc and duration of sessions reduced by 21pc.
The Pildat report also claimed that most of the legislators spoke in regards to the worsening law and order situation in the province.
The legislators of the provincial assembly also passed three legislations in regards to their personal perks and privileges during the second parliamentary year according to the report.
Legislators from all benches appeared to be on the same page when it came to their perks and privileges, said the report.
