ISLAMABAD, January 28, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh passed two government bills and a supplementary resolution on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 13th sitting of the fourth session:
Members’ Participation
- The Assembly met for three hours and 23 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for six minutes due to prayer break.
- The sitting started at 1507 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 36 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
- The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for an hour and two minutes.
- As many as 63 lawmakers (38%) were present at outset and 74 lawmakers (44%) at adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, TLP and MMAP attended the sitting.
- As many as six out of nine minority lawmakers attended the sitting.
Output
- The Select Committees constituted to review the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology Bill, 2018 and the Sindh Injured Persons Compulsory Medical Treatment (Amal Umer) Bill, 2019 presented their reports on the legislative proposals.
- The House considered the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology Bill, 2018 and the Sindh Injured Persons Compulsory Medical Treatment (Amal Umer) Bill, 2019 as reported by the select committees and passed both bills.
- Moved by the Minister for Local Government and Opposition Leader, the House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the attack on a PTI lawmaker. As many as 10 lawmakers debated the resolution for an hour and eight minutes.
- The Minister for Local Government gave a statement regarding ongoing anti-encroachment operation in Karachi. The Minister spoke for 28 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The Minister for Education responded to nine Starred Questions. The lawmakers did not asked any supplementary questions as they were protesting at that time.
- The Ministers for Transport, Local Government and Education & Literacy responded to three Call Attention Notices (CANs) regarding removal of emergency gates in busses to add seats, deplorable condition of Primary School Muhammad Dars in Badin and deteriorating condition of water pipeline at Mubarak Shaheed Road Karachi.
- The House did not address two CANs regarding lack of facilities in Civil Hospital, Jacobabad and corruption of General Councilor, Naushero Feroze.
- An MQM lawmaker withdrew his Question of Privilege (QoP) regarding delay by the government departments in implementation of the laws passed by the House. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs assured the member that all laws would be implemented.
- An Adjournment Motion of PPPP lawmaker regarding of low pressure of natural gas lapsed due to absence of the mover.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers belonging to PTI, GDA and PPPP protested for 36 minutes against the Chair’s decision to disallow a resolution which they wanted to move during the Question Hour. The lawmakers were demanding to move a resolution against the attack on a PTI lawmaker.
- The lawmakers belonging to PTI and TLP had a verbal clash that continued for two minutes. TLP lawmakers accused PTI members of disrespecting the holy names by tearing the copies of Orders of the Day
- The House was adjourned to meet again on January 29, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1000 hours.
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 Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.