ISLAMABAD, February 07, 2014: The Sindh Assembly passed two bills and took up three calling attention notices (CANs) during 3^rd sitting of its ongoing session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet based on direct observation of the proceedings of the House.

Introduced by minister for parliamentary affairs, the House passed Sindh Emergency Procurement Bill, 2014 without any hindrance, whereas, the Sindh Building Control (Amendment) Bill, 2014 saw opposition from MQM and PML-N legislators before its passage.

The House took up three CANs regarding pending of development work at Gorakh Hills since long, achievements of the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and failure of Municipality of Matiari to provide basic civic facilities to the residents of Matiari City, Odero Lal and Khyber.

Eight of 10 Starred Questions on the agenda were taken up during the proceedings which were responded to by parliamentary secretaries of relevant ministries. The legislators also asked forty supplementary questions.

The Speaker presided over the entire sitting. Sixty-one members were present at the outset while 81 were there at the adjournment.

The Chief Minister was present for an hour and 55 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for an hour and 30 minutes.

The Parliamentary leaders of PML-N and PTI were present.

MQM lawmakers staged walkout for five minutes due to reservations over Karachi Operation.

 

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 42 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1143 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 43 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the proceedings for an hour and 55 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 30 minutes.
• The Parliamentary leader of PTI and PML-N were present.
• Sixty-one members were present at the outset while 81 were there at the adjournment. A maximum of 86 members were observed to be present at a point during the sitting.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• Six members applied for leave.

Output

• The House passed Sindh Emergency Procurement Bill, 2014.
• Sindh Building Control (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed amid opposition from MQM and PML-N legislators.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up three CANs regarding pending of development work at Gorakh Hills since long, achievements of the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and failure of Municipality of Matiari to provide basic civic facilities to the residents of Matiari City, Odero Lal and Khyber.
• Eight of 10 Starred Questions on the agenda were taken up. The legislators also asked 40 supplementary questions. Under Rule 40, the Chair allowed a lawmaker of PML-F to ask question on short notice which was responded to by the relevant minister.

Order and Institutionalization

• The members spoke on five points of order consuming 11 minutes of the proceedings.
• MQM lawmakers staged walkout for five minutes due to reservations over Karachi Operation.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.

 

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN