Sindh Assembly Adopts Two Resolutions

ISLAMABAD, March 5, 2018: The Sindh Assembly adopted two resolutions and witnessed introduction of one government bill on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during seventh sitting of the 38th session:

Members’ Participation

  • The Sindh Assembly met for an hour and 30 minutes.
  •  The sitting started at 1148 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
  • The Speaker presided over the entire sitting.
  • The Deputy Speaker also attended the sitting.
  • The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
  • As many as 26 (16%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 32 (19%) at the adjournment of sitting.
  • The parliamentary leaders of PML-F and PML-N attended the sitting.
  • Five minority lawmakers were also present.

Output

  • The House adopted two resolutions to express condolence on demise of senior politician Jam Saqi and remember the sacrifices of Sindh Students on March 4, 1967 during a movement against former President General Ayub Khan.
  • Minister for Health moved the Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The House dropped an Adjournment Motion of PML-F lawmaker due to her absence.
  • The House took up two out five Starred Questions for answers during the proceedings. In addition, lawmakers asked 13 supplementary questions.
  • The House addressed two out of five Calling Attention Notices (CANs) which were about not awarding cheques to people of minorities on their festival and drought-like situation in mountains (Kohistan) region from Thatta to Jamshoro.
  • Two CANs remained unaddressed due to movers’ absence while one was deferred on ministerial absence.

 Order and Institutionalization

  • An MQM lawmaker walked out of the House at 1210 hours when he was not allowed to speak on a point of order. He did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
  •  The House was adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 1000 hours.

Transparency

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

This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation, a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted