ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2015: The Sindh Assembly continued to witness low attendance as only 16 (9%) legislators were present at the start and 44 (26%) at the adjournment of the 6^th sitting of the ongoing 19^th session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the lawmakers.

The House passed the Sindh Security of Vulnerable Establishments Bill 2015 and adopted a resolution against the decision of IRSA to open the irrigation water supply to Chashma Jhelum Link Canal in violation of inter-provincial agreement.

The House took up an adjournment motion regarding the murder of an employee of PPPP lawmaker which was later withdrawn by the legislator on the assurance of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 24 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1053 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 38 minutes while rest of the proceedings were chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• 16 members (9%) were present at the start and 44 (26%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 46 members (27%) attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-N and PML-F were present.
• Two out of nine minority members were present.
• Three members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed the Sindh Security of Vulnerable Establishments Bill 2015.
•  The Sindh Service Tribunals (second amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced in the House.
• Tabled by Minister for Education, the House adopted a resolution against the decision of IRSA to open the irrigation water supply to Chashma Jhelum Link Canal in violation of inter-provincial agreement.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Six out of ten questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant departments. In addition, the lawmakers raised 25 supplementary questions.
• The House took up an adjournment motion regarding delay in establishment of wheat procurement centers in the province.
• The House took up an adjournment motion regarding the murder of an employee of PPPP lawmaker which was later withdrawn by the legislator on the assurance of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The House took up four calling attention notices (CANs) regarding purchase, deplorable condition of historical mosque ‘Shah Jahan Masjid’, improvement in sanitation and infrastructure of Sukkur City and illegal allotment of land in Mirpurkhas.
• Another CAN regarding death of children due to falling of advertisement board on them in Shikarpur was not taken up by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• Three points of order (POs) consumed five minutes of the sitting. The Chair gave a ruling on one PO.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the members, observers and the public.

• Information on members’ attendance was available to the observers and the public.

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The 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.