RULE

BALUCHISTAN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL RULES, 1980 BALUCHISTAN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL RULES, 1980 [Gazette of Baluchistan, Extraordinary, 30th April, 1980] No. 7113.‑In exercise of the powers conferred by section II of the Baluchistan Provincial Council Ordinance, 1980 (VII of 1980), the Govern ment of Baluchistan is pleased to make the following rules, namely:‑ 1. Short title and commencement.‑(1) These rules may be called the Baluchistan Provincial Council Rules, 1980. (2) They shall come into force at once. 2. Definition.‑In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say---- (i) "Agenda" means the list of business for consideration at a meeting of the Provincial Council, and includes supplementary agenda; (ii) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Council; (iii) "Council" means the Provincial Council constituted under section 3 of Baluchistan Provincial Council Ordinance, 1980; (iv) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Provincial Council. 3. Meetings.‑Every matter required by any provision of the Ordinance or the rules made thereunder to be considered by the Council shall, unless otherwise provided, be considered in a meeting of the Council held in accordance with these rules. 4. Notice and agenda.‑(I) The Secretary shall inform the members of the Council of the date, time and place of the meeting by a notice circulated at least fifteen days before the meeting: Provided that the Chairman may convene a meeting at a shorter notice. (2) The agenda for the meeting shall be despatched to the members at least ten days before the meeting: Provided that with the permission of the Chairman the agenda or supplementary agenda may be circulated to the members at a shorter notice. (3) A member who wishes to move a motion, or resolution shall give a notice, a writing to the Secretary, at least, ten days before the meeting, of this intention and shall submit a copy of the motion or resolution which he wishes to move: Provided that the Chairman may, for any reason, admit a motion or resolution at a shorter notice, such motions or resolutions being included in the supplementary agenda. (4) (a) A motion or resolution shall strictly relate to the functions of the Provincial Council: Provided that the Chairman may allow any motion or resolution to be moved at a meeting. (b) The Chairman may refuse any motion or resolution to be moved at a meeting and his decision shall be final. (5) After the despatch of notice, the Secretary shall, on requisition by a member, make available to him any information relating to any matter on the agenda. (6) The proceedings of the meeting of the Council shall not be invalid merely on the ground that the notice of the meeting had not been served upon or received by any member, provided that the meeting so convened had a quorum. 5. Quorum.‑No business shall be transacted in a meeting unless a quorum of one‑third of the total number of members constituting the Council is present. 6. Transaction of business.‑(1) The business to be transacted in a meeting shall be taken up in the order in which it is entered in the agenda; Provided that the Chairman may, for any reason, vary such order or bring before the meeting any matter not included in the agenda. (2) The motion or resolution allowed by the Chairman shall be read by the mover before the meeting and the mover may then speak on the motion or resolution. (3) No member, except the mover, shall ordinarily speak on the sable motion or .resolution for more than once. (4) At the conclusion of the debate, the mover of the. motion or resolution may exercise his right of reply. (5) After a substantive motion or resolution has been moved and the mover has, if he so desired, spoken in support thereof, any member may move an amendment provided that he has given two clear days notice, in writing, to the Secretary, and the provision of sub‑rules (2), (3) and (4) shall apply to such amendment. (6) All motions, resolutions or amendments carried by a majority vote shall be recorded in the minutes. (7) The Chairman may, for any reasons, declare a motion to be out of order and the decision of the Chairman shall be ‑final. . (8) A motion, resolution or amendment may be withdrawn by its mover with the consent of the Chairman. (9) No discussion shall be held on a 'motion or resolution or amendment which has been withdrawn. 7. Questions.‑{1) A member, who wishes to ask a question shall send it, in. writing, to the Secretary, at least, fifteen days before the meeting provided that the Chairman may admit a question at a short notice: Provided further that the Chairman may disallow any question which‑ (a) relates to a matter which is sub judice; (b) is frivolous, offensive or injurious to the interests of the Council; (c) is outside the scope of the Council; . (d) asks for an expression of opinion; (e) contains arguments, inferences, ironical expressions or defamatory statements; and (f) requires information contained in documents ordinarily accessible to the public. (2) A member, who desires an oral answer to his question may distinguish it with a star, (3) Any member may put a supplementary question in elucidation of the answer given to a starred question. No member shall be allowed to ask more than three supplementary questions on any one question. (4) A question addressed to the Administrative Secretary of the Govern ment of Baluchistan must relate to the affairs with which he is officially connected or a matter of administration for which he is responsible. 8. Debate.‑(1) Every speech made‑ in respect of any matter under consideration of the meeting shall be strictly relevant to that matter. (2) A member while speaking shall not‑---- (a) use the Chairman's name for the purpose of influencing the debate but shall address him as `Sir' or as `Mr. Chairman' ; (b) utter defamatory words or make use of offensive expressions; (c) refer to a matter of fact on which a judicial decision is pending; (d) make a personal charge against a member or an officer of the Government in his personal capacity; (e) use his right for wilfully obstructing the business of the. meeting. (3) The Chairman may, at any time when he considers necessary, direct the member speaking to discontinue his speech. (4) A member who desires to speak, shall address the Chairman. (5) If, at any time, the Chairman decides to speak, the member speaking shall resume his seat. (6) (a) Any member may, at any time, submit a point of order calling in question the propriety or regularity of some portion pf the proceedings before the meeting. (b) When a point of order is raised, the member speaking shall resume his seat. (c) No speech shall be allowed on a point‑ of order. (d) The Chairman shall decide all points of order, and his decision shall be final. (7) After a point of order has been decided, the member speaking before the point of order shall resume his speech. (8) No member shall‑‑ (a) cross between the Chairman and the member speaking; (b) read any book, newspaper or letter except in connection with the business debate; and (c) interrupt, except with the permission of the Chairman any member while he is speaking. 9. Decision by vote.‑(1) All decisions at a meeting shall be taken by a majority of the votes of member present and voting. (2) In case of equality of votes, the Chairman may exercise the second or casting vote. If in such a case he does not exercise the casting vote, the proposition shall be deemed not to have been carried. 10. Minutes of the meeting.‑(1) Minutes of meeting shall be drawn up and circulated to all the members as soon as possible after the approval of the Chairman. No member shall call into question the correctness of the minutes approved by the Chairman. 11. Appointment of Committees.‑(1) The Council may appoint any number of Committees to facilitate the performance of its functions and assign to them such functions as may be determined by the Council. (2) Every Committee shall elect one of its members to be its Convener. (3) The report of the Committee shall be presented to the Council by the Convener, and the final decision on such report shall be taken by the Council. (4) The Council may co‑opt, on any of its Committees, any person whose assistance or advice it considers necessary. (5) The business of every Committee shall be conducted, so far as may be, in accordance with these rules. 12. If any person's advice or assistance in respect of any matter under consideration before the Council or its Committee is considered necessary, the Chairman may, on his own motion, or at the request of a member, invite any such person to attend a meeting of the Council, or the Committee at which such matter is to be discussed. 13. T. A. and D. A. to the members.‑(1) A member shall be entitled to draw T. A. for a journey performed for the purpose of attending the meeting of the Council or of a Committee from the place where he ordinarily resides to the place where the above said meeting is held and for the return journey from the last mentioned place to the first mentioned place admissible to a Government servant of the Ist Grade (highest class) under the West Pakistan Travelling Allowance Rules. (2) A member shall be entitled to D. A. as admissible to the Government servant of the 1st grade. (3) The Secretary of the Provincial Assembly shall be the Controlling Officer for the purpose of T. A. and D. A. under these Rules. (4) The expenditure on account of T. A. and D. A. payable to a member shall be debited to the Head 25‑General Administration‑B‑Legislative Bodies (10) Provincial Assembly. 14. Residuary powers of the Chairman.‑All matters not specifically provided above shall be regulated in such manner as the Chairman may deem fit.