ISLAMABAD, October 24, 2014: Starting 57 minutes behind the schedule, the Sindh Assembly passed three bills and adopted four resolutions during the 3^rd sitting of 15^th session on Friday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs introduced five bills, of which, three were passed by the House. The passed bills include the Sindh Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Sindh Special Development Board Bill 2014 and the Sindh Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2014. Two bills – the Sindh Employees Old-Age Benefits Bill 2013 and the Sindh Consumer Protection Bill 2014 – were referred to the relevant committees.

Three lawmakers – MQM (2) and PML-F (1) – staged a 7-minute protest to express their reservations over the hasty legislation in the House.

The House adopted four resolutions regarding filling of 187 vacant posts of doctors in Tharparkar, renewing commitment on World Polio Day to eradicate polio, blocking poisonous water of Punjab factories to enter areas of Ghotki and paying tributes to Nusrat Bhutto on her death anniversary.

The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding posting of candidates after qualifying exams of Sindh Public Service Commission since 2008, steps to check street crime in Hyderabad, steps to stop influence of IDPs coming from tribal areas and construction of illegal seminaries, price fixation of electricity produced from Thar Coal and update on K-IV Water Project to fulfill the requirement of Karachi.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 48 minutes.
• The sitting witnessed a delay of 57 minutes as it started at 1057 hours against the schedule start time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 58 minutes while the remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 94 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition remained absent.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, MQM, PML-F and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Forty members (24%) were present at the start and 41 (25%) at the end of the sitting while a maximum of 80 members (48%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Four minority members were present in the sitting.
• Four members applied for leave.  

Output

• The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs introduced five bills, of which, three were passed by the House.

• The passed bills include the Sindh Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014, the Sindh Special Development Board Bill 2014 and the Sindh Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2014.
• Two bills – the Sindh Employees Old-Age Benefits Bill 2013 and the Sindh Consumer Protection Bill 2014 – were referred to the relevant committees.
• The House adopted four resolutions regarding filling of 187 vacant posts of doctors in Tharparkar, renewing commitment on World Polio Day to eradicate polio, blocking poisonous water of Punjab factories to enter areas of Ghotki and paying tributes to Nusrat Bhutto on her death anniversary.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up five calling attention notices (CANs) regarding posting of candidates after qualifying exams of Sindh Public Service Commission since 2008, steps to check street crime in Hyderabad, steps to stop influence of IDPs coming from tribal areas and construction of illegal seminaries, price fixation of electricity produced from Thar Coal and update on K-IV Water Project to fulfill the requirement of Karachi.
• Four starred questions (requiring oral as well) appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers while 19 supplementary questions were also asked.
• The MQM members moved an adjournment motion to discuss the deaths of people due to consumption of toxic alcohol which was admitted and two members spoke on it for 12 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• Three lawmakers – MQM (2) and PML-F (1) – staged a 7-minute protest to express their reservations over the hasty legislation in the House.
• Ten points of order consumed 15 minutes of the proceedings’ time.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.

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