ISLAMABAD, April 28, 2017: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh took up all Calling Attention Notices (CANs) appearing on Orders of the Day and addressed all questions during Question Hour on Friday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during ninth sitting of the 32nd session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 11 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1143 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings were suspended for three minutes due to Azaan (call for prayer) break.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 35 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired rest of the proceedings.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 40 minutes.
- Fifty-one lawmakers (31%) were present at the outset and 45 (27%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F and PTI attended the proceedings.
- Three minority members were present.
- Nine members applied for leave.
Output
- The Chair informed the House about the assent of Sindh Governor to the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Bill, 2017.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up all five Starred Questions, which were responded to by the relevant minister. The lawmakers asked 33 Supplementary Questions.
- The House took up all five CANs appearing on the agenda. They were about modernizing the Fire Brigade in Karachi; prevention of Chickungunya disease; shortage of doctors in Civil Hospital, Makli, Thatta; sewerage line opposite Karachi Zoo UC-16 and opening the gates of Nara Canal twice a month in Thanko village.
- Raised by MQM lawmaker, the House under Rule 265 discussed the recovery of donkey hides by Karachi police and the Minister for Food gave statement on it.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- 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.