ISLAMABAD, June 26, 2013: As many as 35 MPAs discussed the annual budget for six hours and 29 minutes in the sixth sitting of the Sindh Assembly’s third session on Wednesday. The long-stretched sitting, which met for eight hours and 10, was started with the delay of an hour and 44 minutes.

Twenty members of PPPP and 14 of MQM shared their views about the budgetary proposals for three hours and 15 minutes and three hours and 11 minutes, respectively. A PMLN MPA spoke for three minutes.

The House also unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the attack on the convoy of a Sindh High Court judge. The resolution was jointly moved by the members both from the treasury and opposition benches.

The Speaker chaired the sitting for five hours and 18 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were present.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for eight hours and 10 minutes. The House took a break of 67 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1114 hours against the scheduled starting time of 0930 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 44 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for five hours and 18 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• Sixty-five members were present at the outset while 59 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 95 members were present at one point of sitting.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 25 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for three hours and 12 minutes.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• Thirty-five members – 20 of PPPP, 14 of MQM, and one of PMLN – took part in the general discussion on budget. The discussed the budgetary proposals for six hours and 29 minutes.
  

Output

• The House unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the attack on the convoy of Sindh High Court judge. The resolution was jointly moved by the members from the treasury and opposition benches.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• No point of order was raised during the sitting.
• No protest, walkout or boycott observed during the sitting.
  

Transparency

• The List of Business (agenda) was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information of members’ attendance was available to the 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