ISLAMABAD, April 7, 2015: The Sindh Assembly adopted three resolutions during the second sitting of its ongoing 19^th session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 39 minutes behind the schedule with 42 members (25%) present at the start and 52 (31%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for three hours and one minute.

The House adopted three resolutions, demanding the government to set up exit routes in all public as well as private high rise buildings, allocate funds for construction of minorities’ worship places and commending the announcement by Chief Minister to recruit 2000 cops for protection of places of worship for minorities.

Two other resolutions for paying tribute to Syed Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi and starting community service training in all educational institutions were not taken up.

The House passed a censure motion against the Opposition Leader for tearing the book of Rules of Procedure during the previous sitting.

Five private motions on the agenda were not taken up which demanded ban on quacks, action against illegal seminaries, making it mandatory for motorcyclists to wear safety helmets, implementation on the prescribed labour laws in the factories/industries and condemning attack by political party workers on PTI camp on April 3, 2015.

The House did not consider amendments in rules of procedure of the Sindh Assembly as contemplated under sub-rule 4(a) of rule 267 of rules of procedure.

Following are some key observations of the assembly’s business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1039 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 39 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 13 minutes while the remaining time was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and one minute.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PTI, PML-N and PML-F attended the sitting.
• 42 members (25%) were present at the start and 52 (31%) at the time of adjournment.  A maximum of 72 members (43%) were seen at one point of the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• One lawmaker applied for leave.

Output

• The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University at Lyari Karachi (Amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced.
• The House adopted three resolutions, demanding the government to set up exit routes in all public as well as private high rise buildings, allocate funds for construction of minorities’ worship places and commending the announcement by Chief Minister to recruit 2000 cops for protection of places of worship for minorities.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Four out of five starred questions appearing on Orders of the Day were taken up and responded by the relevant department. In addition, the legislators raised 18 supplementary questions during the sitting.
• The House took up an adjournment motion regarding shifting of a bus terminal from Hyderabad city.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 15 points of order for 19 minutes.
• PML-F and PML-N members protested for two minutes within the House over a heated exchange of words between PPPP lawmaker and the Opposition Leader.
• Similarly, they protested for six minutes before the rostrum of the Speaker on tabling a Censure Motion against the Opposition Leader.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to members, observers and others.

 To download the document, click here

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The 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