ISLAMABAD, May 7, 2012: Starting 108 minutes behind schedule, the eighth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 35^th session, which met for four hours and two minutes on Monday, passed the Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority Bill 2012.

The sitting was marked by low attendance – 18 legislators were present at the start while 55 were there when it was adjourned. The House deferred the discussion on the law and order in the province to tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM and ANP were present while those of PML, PMLF, PML (F-B) and NPP did not attend the sitting.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

 Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and two minutes.
• The sitting started at 1118 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 0930 hours. The proceedings were delayed by 108 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for 145 minutes, the Deputy Speaker for 79 minutes while the remaining time was presided over by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM and ANP were present while those of PML, PMLF, PML (F-B) and NPP did not attend the sitting.
• Eighteen (11% of 165) Members were present at the start while 55 (33%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Three minority Members were present during the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Five out of eight questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant Minister. Additionally, 19 Supplementary questions were raised.
• The House did not debate the law and order in the province. The general discussion was deferred till tomorrow (Tuesday).

Output

• The Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority Bill 2012 was passed by the House. Fifteen Members – including the prime mover – spoke on the general articles of the Bill.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Eight Points of Order consumed 15 minutes of the sitting time. None of them attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.

 Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting. However, it was not pointed out by any of the MPAs.

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