ISLAMABAD, January 18, 2018: The Sindh Assembly, on Thursday, adopted a resolution condemning the rape and murder of a minor girl in Mardan and referred three government bills to the relevant committees, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during sixth sitting of the 37th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 11 minutes while the proceedings remained suspended for three minutes due to Azaan.
- The sitting started at 1138 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 32 while a member of Panel of Chairpersons presided over the rest of the proceedings.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and 23 minutes.
- As many as 40 (24%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 39 (23%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PML-F and PTI attended the sitting.
- Seven minority members were also present.
- Three members applied for leave.
Output
- The House witnessed the introduction of three government bills including the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the Sohail University Bill, 2017 and the University of Modern Sciences, Tando Muhammad Khan Bill, 2017. These bills were referred to the relevant committees for further deliberations.
- The House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the rape and murder of a four-year old girl in Mardan.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up four out of five Starred Questions for answers during the Question Hour. The lawmakers asked 19 supplementary questions as well.
- A PTI lawmaker withdrew his Adjournment Motion regarding charged vehicle parking throughout Karachi.
- The House took up four Call Attention Notices (CANs) regarding installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in Mithi; shortage of doctors and medicine at Taluka Hospital Sinjhoro; water sewerage problems in Karachi and steps to control Influenza in Karachi.
- The remaining two CANs on the agenda were not taken.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised three points of order consuming ten minutes of the proceedings.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 19, 2018.
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.