ISLAMABAD, November 9, 2017: The Sindh Assembly adopted three supplementary resolutions on Thursday including a resolution paying tribute to national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 140th birth anniversary, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 7th sitting of the 36th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours.
- The sitting started at 1145 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 37 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 18 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- As many as 34 (21%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 45 (27%) 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.
Output
- Moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House unanimously adopted three supplementary resolutions about paying tribute to national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 140th birth anniversary, expressing grief over demise of philosopher Muhamad Ibrahim Joyo and demanding unconditional apology from a Federal Minister for his statement against Sindhi people on Kala Bagh dam issue.
- The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs presented the quarterly report on the Budget Execution for the Financial Year 2016-17.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up five out of seven Starred Questions for answers during the proceedings. The lawmakers raised 27 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 three Call Attention Notices (CAN) about possession of motorbikes over charge of illegal parking by traffic police in Saddar, Karachi, increase in annual fee charges by private schools in the province and the shortage of water for agriculture in the district Khairpur. A CAN regarding bogus registration of vehicles by Excise department was dropped due to absence of the concerned lawmaker.
Order and Institutionalization
- A lawmaker belonging to PTI staged a protest for one minutes against the decision of the Chair to disallow a supplementary question.
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