ISLAMABAD, April 15, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh adopted two supplementary resolutions and did not debate an adjournment motion about rolling back of the 18^th Constitutional Amendment by the federal government, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daly Factsheet on Monday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 34^th sitting of the fourth session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hour and 50 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for three minutes due to Azan break.
• The sitting started at 1526 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 20 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for an hour and 30 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and five minutes.
• As many as 58 lawmakers (35%) were present at the outset and 102 (61%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, TLP, PTI, MQM and MMAP attended the sitting.
• As many as seven out of nine minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output                                                                         

• Moved by Minister for Women Development, the Sindh Assembly adopted a supplementary resolution against remarks of a federal minister about disproportionate division of resources in Sindh. She also spoke in it for 20 minutes.
• The House adopted another supplementary resolution to condemn remarks of Prime Minister Imran Khan about better chance of talks with India if Narendra Modi wins the upcoming general election there. It was moved by a PPPP lawmaker who also spoke on it for three minutes.
• The announcement regarding Governor’s assent to the Sindh Injured Persons Compulsory Medical Treatment (Amal Umer) Bill, 2019 was not made.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Minster for Minority Affairs answered four out of five starred questions while one question was deferred. In addition, the lawmakers asked 18 supplementary questions.
• The House did not debate an Adjournment Motion (AM) about rolling back of the 18^th Constitutional Amendment by the federal government.
• Sponsored by a PTI lawmaker, the House did not take up an AM regarding inactivity of the Sindh government departments towards completion of development schemes announced in fiscal year 2018-19.
• The Leader of the House (Chief Minster) spoke for 30 minutes on a point of public importance regarding power generation from Tharcoal Power Plant.
• The Ministers for Education & Literacy, Parliamentary Affairs, Transport and Forest responded to four Calling attention notices (CANs). These notices were regarding declaring Sindhi as compulsory subject at O Level Schools, rape and murder of a student in Karachi, illegal transport stands at PS-97 and plantation of trees in Khairpur Mir’s.
• Another CAN about reduction in the prices of medicine was not taken up by the House.

Order and Institutionalization

• The Opposition Parties (MQMP, PTI) protested on floor of the House for nine minutes against the remarks of Chief Minister about Article 149 of the Constitution.
• The Opposition Parties (MQMP, PTI, GDA) protested for two Minutes when Speaker did not allow them to speak on a resolution.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on April 16, 2019 (Tuesday) at 1400 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 Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted