ISLAMABAD, March 31, 2014: The Sindh Assembly adjourned for a week after passing three resolutions and one bill on Monday during fifth sitting of 12^th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

A resolution, sponsored by female lawmaker belonging to PPPP, paid tributes to the founder chairman of her party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and condemned his ‘judicial murder’. Another resolution brought by PML-F legislator expressed reservations over the recommendations of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and suggested “doing away” with CCI, as, according to him, it has caused more damage than benefit to Pakistan. Seven members spoke for twenty minutes in support of the resolution. The third resolution, sponsored by MQM legislator, condemned the attack on journalist Raza Rumi in Lahore. All resolutions were passed by the House unanimously.

The House considered the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014 clause by clause and approved it with four amendments proposed by three lawmakers. The Speaker announced that Governor of Sindh had given assent to The Sindh Civil Servants (Regularization of Adhoc Appointments) (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

The House also took up three calling attention notices (CANs). Three lawmakers belonging to MQM, PML-F and PTI sponsored the notices, which were responded to by the parliamentary affairs minister. The members sought explanation from the government on the issues of food shortage in Tharparkar, kidnapping of student from Benazirabad, and child beggary.

The parliamentary affairs minister also responded to an adjournment motion regarding attack on a Hindu temple in Larkana submitted by a female lawmaker of PML-N.

The parliamentary affairs minister responded to all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The lawmakers asked 26 supplementary questions as well. The wrong written answer to a question prompted the Chair to direct the minister that the concerned official be instructed to remain careful in future while responding to the House.

The lawmakers also raised nine points of order consuming nineteen minutes of the proceedings.

A privilege motion of female lawmaker belonging to PPPP was referred to the special committee for privileges.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 22 minutes taking a three-minute break.
• The sitting started at 1138 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 38 minutes.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Chief Minister was absent while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for half an hour.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
• Forty-nine members were present at the outset while 48 at the adjournment. A maximum of 72 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.

Output

• The House considered the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014 clause by clause and approved it with four amendments proposed by three lawmakers.
• A resolution, sponsored by female lawmaker belonging to PPPP, paid tributes to the founder chairman of her party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and condemned his ‘judicial murder’. Another resolution brought by PML-F legislator expressed reservations over the recommendations of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and suggested “doing away” with CCI as it has caused more damage than benefit to Pakistan. Seven members spoke for twenty minutes in support of the resolution. The third resolution sponsored by MQM legislator, condemned attack on journalist Raza Rumi in Lahore. All resolutions were passed unanimously.
• The Speaker announced that Governor of Sindh had given assent to The Sindh Civil Servants (Regularization of Adhoc Appointments) (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House also took up three calling attention notices (CANs). Three lawmakers belonging to MQM, PML-F and PTI sponsored the notices, which were responded to by the parliamentary affairs minister. The members sought explanation from the government on the issues of food shortage in Tharparkar, kidnapping of a student from Benazirabad, and child beggary.
• The parliamentary affairs minister also responded to an adjournment motion regarding attack on a Hindu temple in Larkana submitted by a female lawmaker of PML-N.
• The parliamentary affairs minister responded to all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). The lawmakers asked 26 supplementary questions as well. The wrong written answer to a question prompted the Chair to direct the minister that concerned official be instructed to remain careful in future in responding to the House.
• A privilege motion of female lawmaker belonging to PPPP was referred to the special committee for privileges.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers also raised nine points of order consuming nineteen minutes of the proceedings.
• There was no instance of walkout, protest or boycott.

Transparency

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