ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2013: Fifteen members took part in general discussion on budget in fifth sitting of the Sindh Assembly’s ongoing third session on Tuesday, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet based on the direct observation of assembly proceedings. The sitting lasted four hours and 20 minutes.
Seven members of PPPP discussed the budgetary proposals for two hours and eight minutes, six MQM MPAs for one hour and 24 minutes, and one each of PTI and PMLN for 10 and six minutes respectively.
The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. A total of 49 members were present at the outset while 52 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 102 members were present at one point of sitting.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and 20 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1545 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1500 hours, witnessing a delay of 45 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting. The Deputy Speaker attended the proceedings for two hours and 55 minutes.
- A total of 49 members were present at the outset while 52 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 102 members were present at one point of sitting.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for two hour and 30 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and 23 minutes.
- Seven minority members attended the sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Fifteen members – seven of PPPP, six of MQM, and one each of PTI and PMLN – took part in the general discussion on budget. The discussed the budgetary proposals for three hours and 48 minutes.
- The House prayed for early recovery of Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi and South African Leader Nelson Mandela.
Order and Institutionalization
- No point of order was raised during the sitting.
- No protest, walkout or boycott observed during the sitting.
Transparency
- The List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information of members’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN