ISLAMABAD, February 6, 2015: Starting 49 minutes behind the schedule, the ninth sitting of the Sindh Assembly’s 18th session was marked by low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Forty-three members (26%) were present at the start of the sitting and 65 (39%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for most of the proceedings.

The House passed the Sindh Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Bill 2014, which was introduced by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs on January 22. The same minister introduced the Thar Development Authority Bill 2015, the Kohistan Development Authority Bill 2015 and the Sindh Arms (Amendment) Bill 2015 in the current sitting.

The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-registration of Sindh police vans, release of funds for up-gradation of Karachi Municipal Corporation’s fire services building and establishing fire rescue centers at a district level, minimum utilization of funds allocated to the Sindh Education Department, provision of drinking water in Hyderabad and making filtration plants functional in the city. The CANs were responded by the relevant ministries.

The House also took up an adjournment motion regarding closure of 40% schools as admitted by the Education Secretary.

A PML-N lawmaker’s privilege motion against a PPPP legislator’s inappropriate remarks was not taken up due to the mover’s absence.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 23 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1049 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for two hours and 15 minutes.
• Forty-three members were present at the start and 65 at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 86 members (51%) were present during the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PML-F, PPPP and PML-N were present.
• Four minority members attended the sitting.
• Two members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed the Sindh Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Bill 2014 which was introduced by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs on January 22.
• The minister introduced the Thar Development Authority Bill 2015, the Kohistan Development Authority Bill 2015 and the Sindh Arms (Amendment) Bill 2015 which were referred to the relevant standing committees.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three out of five starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministry. In addition, the MPAs raised 10 supplementary questions.
• The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-registration of Sindh police vans, release of funds for up-gradation of Karachi Municipal Corporation’s fire services building and establishing fire rescue centers at a district level, minimum utilization of funds allocated to the Sindh Education Department, provision of drinking water in Hyderabad and making filtration plants functional in the city. The CANs were responded by the relevant ministries.
• The House also took up an adjournment motion regarding closure of 40% schools in the province, as admitted by the Education Secretary.
• A PML-N lawmaker’s privilege motion against a PPPP legislator’s inappropriate remarks was also not taken due to the mover’s absence.

Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 15 Points of Order that consumed 16 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

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

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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.