ISLAMABAD, April 25, 2014: The Sindh Assembly passed two bills and adopted one resolution on Friday during 14^th sitting of its 12^th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Introduced by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions & Powers) (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the Sindh Shaheed Recognition and Compensation Bill, 2014.

PTI lawmaker tabled a resolution to condemn objectionable statement of Geo News with false accusation on prestigious intelligence agency. The House adopted the resolution unanimously.

The House took up four calling attention notices (CANs) regarding law and order in the province, damage to roads of Sindh due to Gubel ploughing, steps for prevention of measles in Sindh and details about police officers of Grade-18 and above presently posted in the province and simultaneously facing departmental inquiry.

Minister for Education moved a censured motion against the remarks of State Minister for Water and Power regarding power pilferage in Sindh which was supported by the other lawmakers, including PML-N.

The House took up all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Food Department. The members asked 31 supplementary questions as well.

Tabled by MQM female lawmaker, the House took up an adjournment motion regarding kidnapping and rape of five-year old girl in Bheem Poora on March 30, 2014. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to by giving assurance about early arrest of the culprits.

Discussion on “Receipts of the Province, 2013-14”, “Current Revenue Expenditure, 2013-14”, “Current Capital Expenditure, 2013-14” and “Development Expenditure, 2013-14” was on the agenda but the House agreed to discuss these in the next of four sittings.

The lawmakers raised six points of order consuming ten minutes of the proceedings. There was exchange of harsh words between PPPP and PML-N lawmakers over a point of order regarding power outage in the province.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 30 minutes taking a three-minute Azan break.

• The sitting started at 1015 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 15 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 15 minutes while Deputy Speaker presided over the rest of the proceedings.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the slot for Leader of the Opposition is vacant as MQM has joined the government benches.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
• Eleven members were present at the outset while 84 at the adjournment. A maximum of 89 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
• Six minority members attended the sitting.
• One member applied for the leave.

Output

• Introduced by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions & Powers) (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the Sindh Shaheed Recognition and Compensation Bill, 2014.
• PTI lawmaker tabled the resolution to condemn objectionable statement of Geo News with false accusation on prestigious intelligence agency of the country. The House adopted the resolution unanimously.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up four calling attention notices (CANs) regarding law and order in the province, damage to roads of Sind due to Gubel ploughing, steps for prevention of measles in Sindh and details about police officers of Grade-18 and above presently posted in province and simultaneously facing departmental inquiry.
• Minister for Education moved a censured motion against the remarks of State Minister for Water and Power regarding power pilferage in Sindh which was supported by the other lawmakers, including PML-N. The motion was carried unanimously.
• The House took up all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Food Department. The members asked 31 supplementary questions as well.
• Tabled by MQM female lawmaker, the House took up an adjournment motion regarding kidnapping and rape of five-year old girl in Bheem Poora on March 30, 2014. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to it.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers raised six points of order consuming ten minutes of the proceedings.

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