ISLAMABAD, January 22, 2016: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday to condemn terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda during fourth sitting of its ongoing 23rd session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Some key observations are as follows:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings
- The Sindh Assembly met for 3 hours and 58 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1108 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- Thirty two (19%) lawmakers were present at the start and 39 (23%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- A maximum of 67 (40%) members attended the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for 3 hours and 23 minutes while a member of Panel of Chairpersons presided over the sitting for 35 minutes.
- The Deputy Speaker was absent.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of Opposition attended the sitting for 2 hours and 16 minutes.
- Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N and PTI attended the sitting.
- Two minority members attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- The House unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday to condemn terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda.
- The House did not take up five government bills appearing on the agenda. These bills included the Sindh Allied Health Professional Council Bill, 2014, the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 2015, the Sindh Companies Profits (Workers’ Participation) Bill, 2015 and the Sindh Minimum Wages Bill, 2015.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Four out of five Calling Attention Notices (CANs) were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers on floor of the House. These notices were about shortage of water in district South, Karachi, unserviceable waste lifting vehicles in Karachi, low attendance of faculty staff at Liaquat Medical University Hospital, Hyderabad and increasing child labor in urban areas of province.
- A CAN regarding injuries caused by fallen roof of Girls Elementary School in Khairpur was not taken up by the House due to mover’s absence.
- The House took up three out of eight starred questions appearing on the agenda. The members also asked 16 supplementary questions.
- The House did not taken up an Adjournment Motion (AM) jointly moved by MQM members regarding settlement of clash between tribes in Ghari Yaseen through Jirga.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers spoke on eight Points of Order consuming 10 minutes of the proceeding.
- A Privilege Motion (PM) moved by MQM female lawmaker regarding refusal of her medical bills by Medical Superintendent of Services Hospital, Karachi was not taken up.
Transparency
- “Orders of the Day” was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on legislators’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.
To download the factsheet, click here for English- click here for Urdu
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.