ISLAMABAD, January 25, 2016: Starting 109 minutes behind the scheduled time, The Provincial Assembly of Sindh took up most of its agenda items on list of the business on Monday during 5th 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 48 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1149 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- Fifty five (33%) lawmakers were present at the start and 44 (26%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- A maximum of 74 (44%) members attended the sitting.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for 2 hours and 50 minutes while the Deputy Speaker presided over the sitting for 58 minutes.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
- The Leader of Opposition attended the sitting for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
- Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F, PML-N and PTI attended the sitting.
- Three minority members attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
Output
- Tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Sindh Minimum Wages Bill, 2015.
- The House referred three bills – The Sindh Allied Health Professional Council Bill, 2014, the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 2015, the Sindh Companies Profits (Workers’ Participation) Bill, 2015 – to relevant Standing Committees.
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 increasing street crime in Karachi city, shortage of water in west district and Baldia town, construction of tall buildings in North Nazimabad, and overflow of sewerage lines in Korangi district.
- A CAN regarding death caused by uncovered drain hole at Sukkar was not taken up by the House due to movers’ absence.
- The House took up four out of five starred questions appearing on the agenda. Members also asked 29 supplementary questions.
Order and Institutionalization
- Lawmakers spoke on 43 Points of Order consuming 45 minutes of the proceeding.
- Members belonging to PTI staged a walkout from the House for 15 minutes against the attitude of the Speaker.
- MQM members staged a token walkout from the House for 3 minutes against the attitude of the Chair for not allowing them to raise a private resolution.
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
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.