ISLAMABAD, June 16, 2015: The Sindh Assembly commenced the debate on the provincial budget 2015-16 amid low attendance on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 78 minutes behind the schedule with 25 members (15%) present at the start and 36 (21%) at the time of adjournment. The Chief Minister attended nearly 60% of the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was not present.

Ten lawmakers – five belonging to PPPP, four from PML-N (4) and one PTI member – spoke during the debate that took up nearly 87% of the sitting’s duration.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 48 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1118 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• 25 members (15%) were present at the start and 36 (21%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 65 members (39%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 103 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the remaining proceedings.
• The Chief Minister was present for 98 minutes.
• The Opposition leader was not present.
• The Finance Minister attended the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, and PTI were present.
• Four non-Muslims members were present.
• No member applied for the leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Ten lawmakers participated in the budget debate for two hours and 26 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• Only one point of order was raised during the entire sitting.

Transparency

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

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.