ISLAMABAD, April 13, 2015: The Sindh Assembly passed three bills and five resolutions amid low attendance of lawmakers on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily factsheet.
The sitting started 47 minutes behind the schedule with 34 members (20%) present at the start and 32 (19%) at the time of adjournment. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for 72% of the proceedings’ time.
The House passed the Postgraduate Institute of Orthopedic Sciences Bill 2015, the Information of Temporary Residents Bill 2015 and the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill 2015. In addition, The Jinnah Sindh Medical University (Amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced during the sitting.
The House adopted five resolutions to support the enactment of gazette material’s publication under the Private Persons Act 2015, oppose the closure of National Bank of Pakistan’s regional office in Larkana, protect street children in Sindh, ensure steps to control the flow of toxic water from Punjab and provide gas to tehsil headquarters in Faiz Gunj, Khairpur.
Following are some key observations of the assembly business:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and 11 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1047 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for 112 minutes, the Deputy Speaker for 111 minutes and a member of Panel of Chairpersons for 28 minutes.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Opposition Leader was present for three hours and one minute.
- 34 members (20%) were present at the start and 32 (19%) at the end of the sitting.
- A maximum of 66 members (39%) attended the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-N, PTI and PML-F were present.
- Three minority members were present.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- The Sindh Assembly passed the Postgraduate Institute of Orthopedic Sciences Bill 2015, the Information of Temporary Residents Bill 2015 and the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill 2015.
- The Jinnah Sindh Medical University (Amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced.
- The House unanimously adopted five supplementary resolutions to support the enactment of gazette material’s publication under the Private Persons Act 2015, oppose the closure of National Bank of Pakistan’s regional office in Larkana, protect street children in Sindh, ensure steps to control the flow of toxic water from Punjab and provide gas to tehsil headquarters in Faiz Gunj, Khairpur.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Four starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant departments. In addition, the lawmakers raised 16 supplementary questions.
- The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding vacant posts in the Home Department, revenue records of Mirpur Sakro tehsil in Thatta, poisonous chemicals released from sugar mills, non-payment of funds for 28,000 schools and defective street lights on Shah Faisal Bridge.
- The House took up an adjournment motion regarding non-functional tube wells in Khairpur district.
Order and Institutionalization
- Eight points of order consumed 12 minutes of the sitting.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the members, observers and the public.
- Information on members’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.
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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.