After successfully observing the proceedings of the National Assembly, FAFEN has started observation of the provincial assemblies – Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan – and the Senate. This report is based on FAFEN’s direct observation of the 32th session of the Sindh Assembly, which was held between December 16, 2011 and January 26, 2012.

The Assembly proceedings are observed using a robust methodology based on the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business. The observers collect information on all major types of parliamentary business on a standardized checklist. The data gathered is analyzed together with that acquired from other parliamentary sources to prepare session-wise reports.

FAFEN has also begun preparing daily factsheets on the Assembly’s proceedings. These are released the same day the sittings are held to provide media and other interested stakeholders vital statistics. The aim is to encourage informed public discourse on Assembly’s performance.

Spread over 18 sittings, the Sindh Assembly’s 32nd session met for 43 hours and 50 minutes – an average of two hours and 26 minutes each day. On an average each sitting was delayed by 66 minutes.

Almost one-third of the session time was consumed by Points of Order – six hours and 10 minutes of the total session time.

The Points of Order may be raised at any time in case of a perceived breach in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business requires a ruling by the Chair. However, these are often used erroneously to ask questions or make speeches.

None of the Points of Order attracted the Chair’s formal ruling. Unless the Chair gives a ruling on a Point of Order it does not lead to any Assembly output. Low attendance of MPAs was observed during the session, with an average of 34 Members present at the start of each sitting and 56 at the end. The total Membership is 165. On average, four out of five minority Members were present in each sitting. Nine seats are reserved for minorities in the Sindh Assembly.

Among key Members, the Speaker was present in all sittings except the 9th, and presided over 90% of the session time. The Members of Panel of Chairpersons were there in all sittings and chaired 7% of the time while the Deputy Speaker, present in six sittings, presided over 3%. The Chief Minister who attended half of the total 18 sittings, for 18% of the time. The Sindh Assembly is working without an Opposition Leader.

The parliamentary leader of the MQM attended 16 sittings, PML (FB) 13, PPPP and ANP 10 each, PMLF seven, NPP six and PML one.

Through an Adjournment Motion, Members of the Sindh Assembly debated the violation of article 25 (Equality of Citizens) of the constitution for 22 minutes during the 18th sitting.

For complete report click here