ISLAMABAD, November 7, 2017: The Sindh Assembly adopted three private members’ resolutions on Tuesday amidst verbal clashes between treasury and opposition lawmakers, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 5th sitting of the 36th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 56 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1140 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings were suspended for three minutes due to prayers’ call.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 20 minutes while rest of the proceedings was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Speaker was not present.
- The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended the proceedings for 40 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was present for 38 minutes.
- As many as 48 (29%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 50 (30%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F, PML-N and PTI attended the sitting.
- Five minority members were also present.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- A PPPP lawmaker introduced the Pakistan University, Karachi Bill, 2017 and the University of Art and Culture, Jamshoro Bill, 2017 in the House. The bills were referred to the relevant standing committees for further deliberations.
- The House adopted three private members’ resolutions recommending the government to donate funds for Muslim refugees of Myanmar in Bangladesh, take steps to settle dispute among student groups in Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and take immediate action against electricity overbilling in the province.
- The House did not take up two resolutions and four motions to amend the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Sindh Assembly.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up three out of five Starred Questions for answers during the proceedings. The lawmakers raised 23 supplementary questions as well.
- The House rejected an Adjournment Motion (AM) regarding recent hike in prices of various commodities in Karachi.
- The House did not take up five private motions appearing on the Orders of the Day.
- The lawmakers raised two Matters of Public importance which were responded to by the relevant ministers.
Order and Institutionalization
- A lawmaker spoke on a Point of Order consuming two minutes of the proceedings.
- The opposition lawmakers staged a protest for eleven minutes against the decision of the Chair to disallow a Point of Order.
- A PML-F lawmaker also staged a three-minute protest against the decision of the Chair to disallow a Point of Order.
- A verbal clash between lawmakers belonging to PML-F and PPPP disrupted the proceedings for two minutes.
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.