ISLAMABAD, October 21, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh left almost its 50 percent agenda unaddressed on Monday and adopted a supplementary resolution to oppose the proposed construction of hydro power project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 15th sitting of the sixth session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for two hours and 23 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1532 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 28 minutes while rest of the sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House and the Opposition attend the proceedings for two hours and 15 minutes.
- As many as 46 MPAs (27%) were present at the outset and 65 (39%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, MQMP, TLP, MMAP and GDA attended the proceedings.
- Six out of nine minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- Tabled by a PPPP lawmaker, the House unanimously adopted a supplementary resolution urging the federal government not to issue `No Objection Certificate’ for construction of hydro power project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal. Earlier, the Chief Minister gave a policy statement on it for five minutes while two lawmakers also spoke on it for eight minutes.
- The House did not consider any other agenda item including two Adjournment Motions, a government bill and a privilege motion.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up four out of 13 starred questions while the lawmakers asked 25 supplementary questions as well.
- The relevant ministers responded to four Call Attention Notices (CANs) regarding non-construction of double road in an area of Karachi, damage to cotton crop in district Ghotki, funds to Sindh under the NFC Award and increase in case of street Crime and target killing in Karachi.
- Another CAN regarding faulty ventilators at Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital was not taken up due to the absence of minister.
Order and Institutionalization
- PTI and GDA lawmakers protested for two minutes during the proceedings when the Chair disallowed them to speak on the resolution.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on October 22, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1500 hours.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of the lawmakers was available to the media and observer.
This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted