ISLAMABAD, November 24, 2021: The Sindh Assembly left its entire agenda unaddressed except question hour on Wednesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the fifth sitting of 24th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 30 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 22 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 11:30 am against the scheduled time of 10:00 am.
• The speaker did not attend the sitting.
• The deputy speaker presided over the proceedings for an hour and 33 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by two members of panel of chairpersons.
• The leader of the House (chief minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The opposition leader was present for an hour and 15 minutes.
• As many as 40 MPAs (24 percent) were present at the outset and 51 (30 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PTI, TLP, MQMP and MMAP attended the proceedings.
• Six out of nine minority lawmakers attended the proceedings.

 Output 

• The House did not consider legislative business and five private members’ resolutions.

 Representation and Responsiveness 

• The House took up three out of five starred questions while lawmakers asked 14 supplementary questions.
• Minister for parliamentary affairs gave a policy statement regarding wheat flour situation in the province and responded to the allegations of federal government on Sindh in this regard.
• A privilege motion and an adjournment motion on the agenda remained unaddressed.

Order and Institutionalization

• Four lawmakers spoke on points of order for 19 minutes.
• The House witnessed two instances of protests during the proceedings for 21 minutes by PTI, MMAP and MQMP lawmakers. These protests were against delay in start of sitting and the Chair’s permission to Minister for parliamentary affairs to give policy statement.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at 02:00 pm.

 Transparency                                                             

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the media and observers.

This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted