ISLAMABAD, November 1, 2019: The government introduced three bills in Sindh Assembly on Friday which were referred to the relevant standing committees for deliberation, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 19th sitting of the sixth session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 10 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1525 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 19 minutes while rest of the proceeding was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House and the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
- As many as 37 MPAs (22%) were present at the outset and 45 (27%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and MQMP attended the proceedings.
- Six out of nine minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- Minister for Agriculture introduced the Sindh Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which was referred to the concerned standing committee.
- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs introduced the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Sindh Charities Registration and Regulation Bill, 2019. Both bills were referred to the concerned standing committees.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up six out of ten starred questions while the lawmakers asked 34 supplementary questions as well.
- Sponsored by a PTI lawmaker, the Chair rejected an Adjournment Motion which was about proclaimed offenders at large in the province.
- A PTI lawmaker withdrew his Privilege Motion after assurance of the concerned minister.
- The House took up three out of five Call Attention Notices (CANs) appearing on the agenda. The responded CANs were about issues being faced by residents of North Nazimabad, dilapidated condition of roads in Karachi (PS-113) and shortage of drinking water in Karachi.
- The House deferred general discussion on an Adjournment Motion regarding problems of the employees of the Karachi Steel Mill due to absence of its mover.
Order and Institutionalization
- Three lawmakers spoke on Points of Order for eight minutes.
- A PTI lawmaker pointed out quorum at 1719 hours which was found complete after the headcount.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on November 4, 2019 (Monday) at 1400 hours.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers was available to the media and observer.
This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted