ISLAMABAD, January 20, 2017: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh transacted most of the business appearing on Orders of the Day amid protest by treasury and opposition lawmakers on Friday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during third sitting of the 29th session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 46 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1113 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings were suspended for three minutes due to a prayer break.
- The Speaker was not present as he is performing the duties of acting Governor of Sindh.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 40 minutes.
- The Leader of the Opposition was absent.
- Twenty-four lawmakers (14%) were present at the start and 28 (17%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N and PTI were present.
- Four minority members also attended the sitting.
- Four members applied for leave.
Output
- Tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House deferred consideration of the Sindh Payment of Wages Bill, 2015 until next sitting.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Eight Starred Questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers. The lawmakers also asked 24 Supplementary Questions.
- The Chair rejected an Adjournment Motion (AM) sponsored by PML-F female lawmaker for not giving Municipal status to the Town Committee of Sajawal after being opposed by the government.
- The House took up two out of five Call Attention Notices (CANs) on various issues of public importance. The remaining CANs were deferred due to the absence of relevant minister.
- A MQM lawmaker raised a Matter of Public Importance regarding shortage and excessive gas load-shedding in Hyderabad.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on five Points of Order, consuming 29 minutes of the proceedings.
- A PPP lawmaker protested for two minutes against the Chair for not allowing him to speak on a Point of Order that led to the suspension of proceedings for 10 minutes.
- The proceedings were disrupted for two minutes due to exchange of harsh words between PML-F female lawmaker and Provincial Minister for Works and Services.
- A PML-N lawmaker protested for two minutes for not given floor to speak on a Point of Order. Later, she walked out of the House.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was not available on website of the Assembly.
This 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.