ISLAMABAD, March 21, 2014: The sitting of Sindh Assembly was adjourned soon after lawmakers offered dua (prayers) for the departed soul of PPPP legislator, during the first sitting of 12^th session on Friday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Forty-eight lawmakers prayed for the deceased lawmaker, Altaf Hussain Unnar, who passed away on March 6, 2014. The House also offered prayers for the victims of famine in Thar, extra-judicially killed workers of MQM and victory of Pakistan against India in cricket match being played today. The members also condemned the murder of JSQM chief’s brother.

The House carried a motion, moved by the minister for parliamentary affairs, to adjourn the sitting without any further business.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for 45 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1125 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 25 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was absent.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 40 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, PML-F and MQM attended the sitting.
• Eighty-one members were present at the outset while 100 at the adjournment. A maximum of 103 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
• Four minority members attended the sitting.
• No member applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Forty-eight lawmakers prayed for the deceased legislator Altaf Hussain Unnar, victims of famine in Thar, extra-judicially killed workers of MQM, and victory of Pakistan against India in cricket match being held today. The members also condemned the killing of the brother of JSQM chief.
• Moved by the minister for parliamentary affairs, the House carried a motion to adjourn the sitting without any further business.

Order and Institutionalization

• There was no instance of walkout, protest or boycott during the proceedings.

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