ISLAMABAD, February 23, 2015: Starting 43 minutes behind the schedule, the Sindh Assembly passed a motion to defer the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill during 15^th sitting of its ongoing 18^th session on Monday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Low attendance was witnessed during the sitting as 22 members (13%) were present at the start and maximum 82 members (49%) at the time of adjournment.

The House witnessed the introduction of Sindh Insurance of Public Property Bill 2015. The lawmakers spoke on 33 points of order that consumed 45 minutes of the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and eight minutes.
• The sitting started at 1043 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The sitting was chaired by the Speaker for two hours and 21 minutes while remaining 47 minutes proceedings were presided over by Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House as well as the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
•  Twenty-two members (13%) were present at the start and maximum 82 members (49%) at the time of adjournment.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM and PML-F were present.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• The House witnessed the introduction of Sindh Insurance of Public Property Bill 2015.
• A motion to defer the Sindh Local Government Bill, 2015 was passed by the House. The said bill was deferred earlier in the 12^th and 14^th sittings on the request of the mover.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Four out of five starred questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant department, while the legislators raised 24 supplementary questions during the sitting.
• The House took up four calling attention notices (CANs) regarding non-allocation of fund in the head of repair and maintenance for district Hyderabad, closure of twelve schools at Khairpur, illegal motorcycle bazar on every Sunday at Hyderi, Karachi and awarding contract to demark the land on Malir river to a defaulter company.

• The Deputy Speaker rejected an adjournment motion moved by PML-F female lawmaker by terming it `out of order’ which related to the shortage of hospitals and dispensaries in Malir district.

Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 33 points of order that consumed 45 minutes of the sitting.
• PML-F legislators protested within the House for one minute against the remarks of PPPP lawmaker over the issue of police official’s transfer from Khairpur.

Transparency

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

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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.