ISLAMABAD, June 22, 2012: Starting an hour and 38 minutes behind schedule, the ninth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 36^th session met for two hours on Friday.

Nine MPAs – five PPPP, two MQM and one each of PMLF and PML (F-B) – debated the budget for 93 minutes (78% of the sitting time).

However, the sitting was marked by low attendance – only 23 legislators were present at the outset and 57 were there when it was adjourned. A maximum of 76 Members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.

The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 43 minutes.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours.
• The sitting started at 1108 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 0930 hours. The proceedings were delayed by an hour and 38 minutes.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 43 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PPPP, PMLF, MQM and PML (F-B) were present.
• Twenty-three (14% of 166) Members were present at the start while 57 (34%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Five minority Members were present during the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• There was no other formal agenda on the Orders of the Day.

Output

• Nine MPAs – five PPPP, two MQM and one each of PMLF and PML (F-B) – debated the budget for 93 minutes (78% of the sitting time).

Order and Institutionalization

• One Point of Order consumed two 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