ISLAMABAD, April 30, 2012: Starting an hour and 55 minutes behind schedule, the fifth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 35^th session, which met for three hours on Monday, unanimously passed the Colonization of Government Lands (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2011.

The sitting witnessed low attendance of Members as 32 were present at the start of the sitting while 72 were there when it was adjourned.

All eight questions on the Agenda were taken up, and an additional 20 Supplementary questions were also asked.

The parliamentary leaders of the PML (F-B), PPP, MQM and PMLF were present while those of PML and NPP did not attend the sitting.

A PPPP minister moved a Privilege motion against a PML-F MPA for “leveling false allegations against him and his wife by saying that she was promoted illegally as an additional secretary (Academic) Education Department.” The Motion was referred to the privileges committee.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours.
• The sitting started at 1125 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 0930 hours. The proceedings were delayed by an hour and 55 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting.
• The Chief Minister was not present.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PML (F-B), PPPP, MQM and PMLF were present while those of ANP, PML and NPP did not attend the sitting.
• Thirty-two (19% of 165) Members were present at the start while 72 (44%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Six minority Members were present during the proceedings.

Representation and Responsiveness

• All eight questions listed on the Agenda were taken up by the House. Additionally, a total of 20 Supplementary Questions were also asked.
• A PPPP minister moved a Privilege motion against a PML-F MPA for “leveling false allegations against him and his wife by saying that she was promoted illegally as an additional secretary (Academic) Education Department.” The Motion was referred to the privileges committee

Output

• The Colonization of Government Lands (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2011 was unanimously passed by the House.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine Points of Order consumed 37 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.
• The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting, was not pointed out by any of the Members.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN