Day: June 23, 2021

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General discussion on federal budget continues in National Assembly

Islamabad, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The National Assembly continued general discussion on the federal budget for the year 2021-22 and 46 lawmakers took part in the debate, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during thirteenth sitting of the 34th session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for 12 hours and 53 minutes.

The proceedings started at 11:05 am against the scheduled time of 11:00 am.

The speaker chaired the proceedings for 27 minutes while the remaining sitting was presided over by three members of panel of chairpersons.

The deputy speaker was not present.

The leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.

A total of 20 lawmakers (six percent) were present at the outset and 26 (eight percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of BAP and GDA attended the sitting.

Seven out of ten minority lawmakers were also present during the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

Forty-six lawmakers participated in debate on federal budget for the year 2021-22 and consumed 12 hours and 23 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

Five lawmakers spoke on points of order for 13 minutes.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:00 am.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Promise of mainstreaming former FATA unfulfilled in 2020

Peshawar, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)’s annual report on the state of human rights in 2020 details the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which recorded 58,702 cases and 1,649 deaths. This was aggravated by low testing levels – less than half a million of KP’s 35 million residents had been tested by the end of the year. Freedom of movement and association were also affected significantly by Covid-related restrictions.

Over 30 laws were passed by the KP Assembly, of which at least 17 were directly related to human rights. Despite being long overdue, local government elections were not held in 2020. This adversely affected local development as the provincial government failed to utilise PKR 43 billion of the PKR 46 billion allocated to local governments for 2019/20. The promise of mainstreaming the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas into KP also remained largely unfulfilled, given the inadequate implementation of the Tribal Decade Strategy (2020-30) only PKR 37 billion of the promised PKR 74 billion in development funds was released.

Jails in KP remained overcrowded in 2020, with nearly 8,000 of more than 11,000 inmates classified as under-trial prisoners. Little progress was made in tackling the backlog of court cases, with 41,042 cases pending in the Peshawar High Court and 230,869 in the District Judiciary KP by end-2020. In welcome news, the Peshawar High Court ordered the release of nearly 200 men convicted by military courts for alleged terrorism in a verdict that included a scathing indictment of the miscarriage of justice. Additionally, no executions were carried out during the year, although the death penalty was awarded to at least one person.

Law and order remained unstable in the province, with terrorist attacks, violence against religious minorities and transgender persons, the harassment of women, and child rape reported through the year. Very few perpetrators were brought to justice, reflecting a high tolerance for criminal impunity. The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances traced 1,335 missing persons from KP as of end-2020. Overall, since its inception in 2011, the commission has traced 713 persons to internment centres and 93 to prisons, but these figures likely underreport the scale of enforced disappearances in the province.

For more information, contact:
Chairperson
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Aiwan-i-Jamhoor, 107-Tipu Block,
New Garden Town, Lahore-54600
Tel: +92-42-35864994
Fax: +92-42-35883582
Email: hrcp@hrcp-web.org
Website: www.hrcp-web.org

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Punjab Assembly concludes debate on provincial budget

Islamabad, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Punjab Assembly concluded the general discussion on Provincial Budget 2021-22 and approved demand for grant related to health services, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the seventh sitting of the 33rd session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for two hours and 40 minutes.

The sitting started at 03:53 pm against the scheduled time of 02:00 pm.

The speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and four minutes, while the remaining sitting was chaired by a member of panel of chairpersons.

The deputy speaker was not present.

The leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the sitting for an hour and 19 minutes.

The opposition leader was not present.

As many as 61 MPAs (16 percent) were present at the outset and 126 (34 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leader of PRHP attended the proceedings.

As many as five out of eight minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

The Provincial Minister for Finance concluded the discussion on budget and spoke for 25 minutes.

The House approved a demand for grant related to health services and rejected a cut motion on it. Six lawmakers including finance minister spoke on it for an hour and 40 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

Three lawmakers spoke on points of order for eight minutes.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 02:00 pm.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available on Assembly’s website.

Information on Members’ attendance is available on Assembly’s website.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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There will be an increase in terror incidents when the Pakistan policy in the Afghan peace process is not correct: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Islamabad, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talking to the media at Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday strongly condemned the terror incident in Lahore this morning. He said that there will be an increase in such incidents when the Pakistan policy in Afghan peace process is not correct and some terror organisations are active across the border. I had demanded on the floor of the Assembly that whatever this government is doing covertly and through the backdoor should be brought before the representatives of the people.

The government should tell us what its policy is. The Speaker has also accepted our demand and after the budget session the opinion of other parties will also be made known. Regarding meeting of President Zardari with Pervez Ilahi, Chairman PPP said that we are very thankful to Pervez Ilahi who visited Zardari Saheb to inquire about his health. We had achieved many successes in government with Pervez Ilahi’s party and when we increased the buying price of wheat, PML-Q not only appreciated it but itself demanded an increase in buying price thus benefitting growers in Punjab as well.

Chairman PPP said that the government has done injustice to the people of Pakistan and the business community by legislating beyond the demands of FATF. This government has made the situation difficult for the business community and common man by such legislations. This legislation was forcibly passed and also could not take Pakistan out of the grey list. The business community was already suffering due to Covid-19 and continues to do so now because of this legislation.

Regarding proposed APC of the opposition, Chairman Bilawal said that he has already spoken to Shahbaz Sharif about the government’s measures for rigging in the elections, the opposition needs to work together against it. We should not allow the government to rig the elections. Chairman Bilawal said that he is planning to visit entire Punjab soon and people are contacting him from all over Pakistan to join the PPP.

He said that our doors are open for everyone who wants to get rid of the failed and unjustified government. He said that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been tasked with contacting everyone who has raised Jeay Bhutto slogan even at the time of his grandfather, mother or worked with his father, he is ready to work with them all. There will be an increase in party’s support base and such people are in contact with the party.

For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: contact@ppp-tu.com
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk

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KP Assembly continues general discussion on provincial budget

Islamabad, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly continued debate on the provincial budget 2021-22 on Wednesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 4th sitting of the 19th session:

Members’ Participation

The Assembly met for three hours and 50 minutes.

The sitting started at 01:50 pm against the scheduled time of 01:00 pm.

The speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 10 minutes, while the deputy speaker chaired the remaining sitting.

The leaders of the House (Chief Minister) and the opposition did not attend the sitting.

Fifty-one legislators (34 percent) were present at the outset and 61 (41 percent) lawmakers at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of ANP, BAP and PML-N attended the proceedings.

Three minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

Twenty-one lawmakers spoke on the provincial budget for three hours and 40 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

Two lawmakers spoke on points of order for five minutes related to protest of Jani Khel Tribe after killing of their tribal elder.

The entire opposition walked out from the House for ten minutes to express solidarity with the protestors.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 01:00 pm.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ is available for the legislators, observers and the media.

Attendance of the lawmakers is not available for the observers and the media.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Sindh PA continues debate on provincial budget amid opposition’s protest

Islamabad, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Sindh Assembly continued general discussion on provincial budget 2021-22 amid protest of opposition lawmakers and seven lawmakers took part in the debate, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 15th sitting of the 21st session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for three hours and 44 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 22 minutes due to opposition’s protest.

The sitting started at 01:30 pm against the scheduled time of 12:00 pm.

The speaker chaired the entire proceedings.

The deputy speaker did not attend the sitting.

The leader of the House (Chief Minister) was present for 12 minutes.

The opposition leader attended the proceedings for an hour and 52 minutes.

As many as 32 MPAs (19 percent) were present at the outset and 52 (31 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, MQMP, GDA, TLP and MMAP were present.

Eight out of nine minority lawmakers attended the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

Seven lawmakers – PPPP (four), PTI, TLP and MQM (one each) – participated in general discussion on budget for the financial year 2021-22 as well as supplementary budget for the financial year 2020-21. They consumed two hours and 51 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization

Lawmakers belonging to MQM protested for an hour and 52 minutes over their reservations on provincial budget.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11:00 am.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org