Sindh Assembly Adopts Four Resolutions

ISLAMABAD, April 19, 2016: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh adopted four resolutions during 10th sitting of its 24th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

  • The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 43 minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
  • The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 41 minutes while the rest of the sitting was chaired by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
  • The Chief Minister and the Deputy Speaker were absent.
  • The Opposition Leader attended the sitting for two hours and 18 minutes.
  • 26 lawmakers (16%) were present at the start and 46 (29%) at the end of the sitting.
  • The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F, PML-N and PTI were present.
  • Four minority members were present.
  • Five members applied for leave.

Output

  • The House unanimously adopted four private members’ resolutions. These resolutions urged the government to establish the city campus of the Model School, Hyderabad, direct the provincial electricity supplying companies to stop unannounced load-shedding, impose ban on import, sale and purchase of beetal nut & Gutka in the province and declare the occasions of Holi, Dewali and Easter as Public Holidays for Minorities.
  • A PML-F lawmaker withdrew his resolution regarding licenses of weapons.
  • The House did not take up any of the 22 motions to amend the Rules of the Assembly.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The government orally responded to three out of six Starred Questions appearing on the agenda. The lawmakers also asked 18 supplementary questions.
  • The House left five Private Motions unaddressed.
  • The House referred a Question of Privilege submitted by PPPP lawmaker to relevant standing committee.
  • A PML-F lawmaker withdrew his Adjournment Motion regarding upgradation of schools following an assurance by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in this regard.

Order and Institutionalization

  • The lawmakers spoke on 14 Points of Order consuming 18 minutes of the proceeding.

Transparency

  • ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
  • The attendance of lawmakers was available to observers and media.

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