ISLAMABAD, June 20, 2012: Starting an hour and 50 minutes behind schedule, the eighth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 36^th session met for three hours and 50 minutes on Tuesday.

Eleven MPAs debated the budget for 159 minutes (69% of the sitting time). Seven of these legislators belonged to PPPP, three MQM and one PMLF.

However, the sitting was marked by low attendance – only nine legislators were present at the outset and 24 were there when it was adjourned. A maximum of 66 Members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.

The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.

All the questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 28 supplementary questions were also asked.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 50 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1103 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 0930 hours. The proceedings were delayed by an hour and 33 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 40 minutes while the remaining time presided over by a Member of Panel of Chairperson.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Minister for Finance and Revenue was there for the entire time.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PPPP, PMLF, MQM, ANP and PML (F-B) were present.
• Nine (5% of 166) Members were present at the start while 24 (14%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Seven minority Members were present during the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Eleven questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. Additionally, 28 supplementary questions were also asked.

Output

• Eleven MPAs – seven PPPP, three MQM and one PMLF – debated the budget for 159 minutes (69% of the sitting time).

Order and Institutionalization

• Five Points of Order consumed 11 minutes of the sitting time. However 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 about Members’ attendance was unavailable 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