ISLAMABAD, November 8, 2017: The Sindh Assembly adopted two private members’ resolutions including a resolution recommending the government to take up the issue of increase in petroleum prices with the Federal government, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 6th sitting of the 36th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 51 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1139 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings were suspended for three minutes due to prayers’ call.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 30 minutes while rest of the proceedings was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Speaker was not present.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the proceedings for 26 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- As many as 44 (27%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 60 (36%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F, PML-N and PTI attended the sitting.
- Five minority members were also present.
- One member applied for leave.
Output
- The House adopted two private members’ resolutions on supplementary agenda recommending the provincial government to take up the issues of zakat fund and recent increase in petroleum prices with federal government.
- The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented three reports of the Auditor General of Pakistan on the accounts of Public Sector Enterprises of Government of Sindh for the Year, 2016-17, Provincial Zakat Fund, Provincial Level Health Institutions and District Zakat Committees Sindh for the Audit Year, 2016-17 and Printed Books of Appropriation Accounts and Financial Statements of Government of Sindh for the Year, 2014-15.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up six out of seven Starred Questions for answers during the proceedings. The lawmakers raised 38 supplementary questions as well.
- The house dropped an Adjournment Motion (AM) appearing on agenda due to absence of the concerned lawmaker.
- The House took up six Call Attention Notices about development work at Karachi Zoological Garden, re-construction of Mehran Highway, water drainage issue in the building of temple at Siri Saadh Bela Sukkur, encroachment alongside of road from Teen Hatti Chowk to Lassbella Chowk, nonpayment of compensation to the family of martyred police officer and missing health facilities in Baldia Town, Karachi.
Order and Institutionalization
- A lawmaker spoke on a Point of Order consuming two minutes of the proceedings.
- The opposition lawmakers – PML-F, PMLN and PTI – staged a protest for four minutes against the decision of the Chair to disallow a Point of Order.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- The attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation, a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.