ISLAMABAD, June 23, 2012: Starting an hour and 33 minutes behind schedule, the tenth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 36^th session met for six hours and 23 minutes on Saturday.

Twenty-one MPAs – 13 PPPP, six MQM and one each of PMLF and NPP – debated the budget for 337 minutes (88% of the sitting time).

However, the sitting was marked by low attendance – only 13 legislators were present at the outset and 32 were there when it was adjourned. A maximum of 73 Members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.

Two out of five questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, six Supplementary Questions were also asked.

The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 55 minutes.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for six hours and 23 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 four hours and 28 minutes while the remaining sitting time was presided over by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 55 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PPPP, PMLF, MQM, ANP and PML (F-B) were present.
• Thirteen (8% of 166) Members were present at the start while 32 (19%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Six minority Members were present during the proceedings.
• Two Members applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Two out of five questions appearing on the Agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant minister. Additionally, six Supplementary Questions were also asked.

Output

• Twenty-one MPAs – 13 PPPP, six MQM and one each of PMLF and NPP – debated the budget for 337 minutes (88% of the sitting time).

Order and Institutionalization

• Four Points of Order consumed 10 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