ISLAMABAD, December 18, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh took up entire business appearing on its agenda and adopted a supplementary resolution demanding the United Nations to take notice of human rights abuses in India and Occupied Kashmir, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Wednesday.
Following are the key observations of the House proceedings during 36th sitting of the sixth session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for three hours and 17 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1552 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 38 minutes while rest of the proceedings was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leader of the House attended the proceedings for two hours and eight minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for two hours and 42 minutes.
- As many as 59 MPAs (35%) were present at the outset and 48 (29%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, GDA and MMAP attended the proceedings.
- Seven out of nine minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- Moved by Minister for Information, the House passed the Sindh Prohibition of Preparation, Manufacturing, Storage, Sale and Use of Gutka and Manpuri Bill, 2019 following presentation of the Standing Committee’s report on it. Three lawmakers spoke on the bill for five minutes.
- The Minister for Information introduced the Sindh Safe Cities Authority Bill, 2019 and the Sindh Students Union Bill, 2019 which were referred to relevant Standing Committees.
- The House reconsidered the Coastal Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019 following Governor’s directive.
- Moved by Chief Minister, the House unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Federal Government to approach the United Nations against Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and its recent legislation about religious minorities. As many as nine lawmakers spoke on it for 39 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up five out of 35 starred questions appearing on the list while the lawmakers asked 32 supplementary questions as well.
- The Ministers concerned responded to all four Call Attention Notices (CANs) appearing on agenda. The responded notices highlighted the issues related to action against encroachments in Karachi, distribution of drinking water and clogged sewerage lines in PS-130 Karachi Central, fixation of price for wheat in open market and allotment of plots in Khairpur district under Benazir Bhutto Township Housing Scheme.
- An Adjournment Motion appeared on agenda remained unaddressed due to mover’s absence.
Order and Institutionalization
- Five lawmakers spoke on Points of Order consuming 14 minutes of the proceedings.
- The Leader of the Opposition protested for two minutes against the passage of the Sindh Prohibition of Preparation, Manufacturing, Storage, Sale and Use of Gutka and Manpuri Bill, 2019. Later, PTI and GDA lawmakers staged walkout on the similar issue for seven minutes and two minutes respectively.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on December 19, 2019 (Thursday) 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 observers.
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