ISLAMABAD, April 11, 2014: Starting an hour behind schedule, the Sindh Assembly proceedings were disrupted by a protest on Friday that led to the adjournment of the sitting during the 8^th sitting of 12^th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The House took up three of five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) while the lawmakers also asked eighteen supplementary questions.

On a supplementary question, a lawmaker belonging to the MQM alleged that appointments in the Education Department were made without merit. The Provincial Education Minister’s response to the allegation led to a protest by all the legislators of MQM. The Chair tried to pacify the agitating members for 17 minutes and then suspended the proceedings for ten minutes.

The House was adjourned immediately after the resumption of the proceedings due to Friday prayers. The lawmakers consumed 25 minutes in raising eleven points of order. No other agenda item was taken up by the House.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

 

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and five minutes.
• The proceedings remained suspended for ten minutes.
• The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing delay of an hour.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and 20 minutes while the Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of proceedings.
• The Chief Minister was absent while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 50 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
• Thirty-nine members (23%) were present at the outset while 22 (13%) at the adjournment. A maximum of 78 members (46%) were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• The sitting was adjourned before the announcement of leave applications.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up three of five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Additionally, the lawmakers asked eighteen supplementary questions.

 

Order and Institutionalization

• On a supplementary question, a lawmaker belonging to MQM alleged that appointments in Education Department were made without any merit.
• The Provincial Education Minister’s response to the allegation led to a protest by all the legislators of MQM. The Chair tried to pacify the agitating members for 17 minutes and then suspended the proceedings for ten minutes.
• The lawmakers consumed 25 minutes in raising eleven points of order.

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