ISLAMABAD, November 1, 2017: The Sindh Assembly, on Wednesday, adopted a resolution accusing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of biasness against a sitting MPA of PPPP and recommending uniform treatment for all citizens in the courts, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during first sitting of the 36th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 21 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1115 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 entire sitting as the Speaker was not present.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the proceedings for an hour and 56 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 50 minutes.
- As many as 35 (21%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 80 (48%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PML-F and PTI attended the sitting.
- Six minority members were also present.
- Four members applied for leave.
Output
- Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House unanimously adopted a supplementary resolution condemning “the biased policies of the National Accountably Bureau (NAB) as shown in the arrest of Honorable Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh Sharjeel Inam Memon” and recommending “the provincial government approach the federal government to adopt uniform policy for the Pakistan’s Judicial System”.
- The Deputy Speaker informed the House that the Sindh Removal from Service (Special Powers) (Repeal) Bill, 2017, the Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017 and the Sindh Differently Able Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 were assented by the Governor Sindh.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up five Starred Questions for the answers during the proceedings. The lawmakers asked 27 supplementary questions as well.
- The House referred a PPPP lawmaker’s Privilege Motion against District Food Controller, Dadu to the concerned standing committee.
- Moved by a PML-F lawmaker, the House admitted an Adjournment Motion regarding results of Population and Housing Census, 2017 for debate during the next sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers belonging to PML-F and PTI staged a two-minute protest against the Chair for not allowing them to speak during the proceedings.
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.