ISLAMABAD, March 08, 2013: The Sindh Assembly, which met for two hours and six minutes in the 17^th sitting of the ongoing 40^th session, unanimously passed the domestic violence bill along with another bill to amend the Sindh Laws.

The Sindh assembly is the first provincial assembly of the country to pass a domestic violence bill aiming to protect women, children and any vulnerable person from domestic violence. Additionally, the Sindh Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced during the preceedings.

To commemorate the 103^rd anniversary of the International Women’s Day celebrated on 8^th of March an MQM and a PPPP female moved a resolution separately; the house adopted both.

The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 21 minutes while the remaining time was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons. The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting whereas the Leader of the Opposition and the parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PMLF, NPP, ANP and PMLQ (FB) attended the sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for an hours and 57 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1128 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 28 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over an hour and 12 minutes of the sitting while the remaining proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PMLF, NPP, ANP and PMLQ (FB) were present whereas that of PMLQ was absent.
• Ten members were present at the start while a maximum 87 were there at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Three minority members attended the sitting.
• One member applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The five questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the Law Minister as the relevant minister was absent. Additionally, 1 supplementary question was asked.

 

Output

• The House unanimously passed two bills: The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2013 and The Sindh Laws (2nd amendment) Bill 2012. Additionally, the Sindh Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced.
• The other two bills on the agenda, the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resources and Development Board Bill, 2013 and The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Bill, 2013, were deferred.
• Two resolutions to commemorate the 103^rd International Women’s Day were adopted by the house.

Order and Institutionalization

• There were no walkouts/ protests during the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day\’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• The Members’ attendance was recorded and then made public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN