ISLAMABAD, May 16, 2017: Starting two hours and ten minutes behind the schedule, the Sindh Assembly adopted three resolutions during Private Members’ Day on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 16th sitting of the 32nd session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 15 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1210 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings remained suspended for three minutes due to Azaan
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the proceedings for an hour and 15 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- Thirty-nine lawmakers (24%) were present at outset while 48 (29%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, and PML-F attended the sitting.
- Six minority members were present.
- Five members applied for leave.
Output
- The House adopted three Private Members’ resolutions sponsored by Private Members’ recommending the government to implement the notification regarding rules of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2001, include a subject on Disaster Management in syllabus of secondary and higher secondary educational institutions and condemning the prolonged electricity load shedding in the Province. The last resolution was moved as supplementary agenda.
- The House did not take up three resolutions and five Private Motions that appeared on the Orders of the Day.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up five Starred Questions which were responded to by the relevant minister. The lawmakers also asked 24 Supplementary Questions.
- The government opposed an Adjournment Motion of MQM lawmaker and the Chair declared it ‘out of order’.
- A lawmaker belonging to MQM withdrew a Privilege Motion.
Order and Institutionalization
- A lawmaker spoke on a Point of Order consuming one minute of 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.