ISLAMABAD, March 8: Starting an hour and 20 minutes behind schedule, the sixth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 34^th session, which met for three hours and 15 minutes on Thursday, unanimously passed the Indus University Bill 2011 and adopted a resolution to commemorate the International Women’s Day.

Fifteen Members were present at the start while 43 were there when the sitting was adjourned. The parliamentary leaders of NPP, PMLQ (F-B), PMLF, MQM, and ANP were present while those of PML and PPPP did not attend the sitting. As the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were not present, two Members of the Panel of Chairpersons presided over the sitting. The Chief Minister also did not attend the sitting.

Out of the 15 questions on the agenda, 14 were taken up as 50 Supplementary Questions were also asked. The relevant minister was present in the House.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and twenty minutes.
• The sitting started at 1120 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings were delayed by an hour and 20 minutes.
• Two Members of the Panel of Chairpersons presided over the sitting. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were not present.
• The Chief Minister also did not attend the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of the NPP, PMLQ (F-B), PMLF, MQM, and ANP were present while those of PML, and PPPP did not attend the sitting.
• Fifteen Members were present at the start while 43 were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Six minority Members were present during the proceedings.
• One Member applied for leave to be absent.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Out of the 15 questions on the agenda, 14 were taken up as 50 Supplementary Questions were also asked. The relevant minister was present in the House.
• A Resolution to commemorate the International Women’s Day was adopted by the House.

Output

• The House passed the Indus University Bill 2011.
• The Sindh Coal Bill 2012 was deferred till Monday, 12 March 2012.

Order and Institutionalization

• Two Points of Order consumed two minutes of the sitting time. However, none of them attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable 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