ISLAMABAD, February 10, 2015: The Sindh Assembly witnessed one of its shortest sittings on Tuesday when it met for one minute in the presence of two lawmakers.

The sitting started at 1006 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours. Besides the Speaker, the Provincial Education Minister and the Deputy Speaker were present. Due to the absence of lawmakers, the proceedings were adjourned till February 16.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for one minute.
• The sitting started at 1006 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The sitting was chaired by the Speaker, while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader did not attend the sitting.
• Two members were present during the entire sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders were present.
• No minority member attended the sitting.
• No member applied for leave.

Output

• The House did not take up five private resolutions regarding regularization of 416 contract employees of the Hepatitis Prevention & Control Programme; constitution of a special committee to ascertain the status of resolutions passed by the House; establishing Sukkur Development Authority; imposing a ban on CNG cylinders in commercial vehicles and demolition of an MPAs’ hostel.
• The Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Sindh Institute of Management and Technology Bill 2015 were not considered by the House.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Five private motions regarding establishment of central libraries in each district; arrest of people during raids at Orangi Town, Karachi; removing illegal bus stations; action against illegal seminaries and against K-Electric for issuing excess bills were not taken up.
• The House did not consider an amendment to the Rules of Procedure as contemplated by sub-rule 4(a) of Rule 267.
• The House did not take up an adjournment motion regarding private schools running without fulfilling the legal requirements in Sukkur.
• No questions related to the Health Department were taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

•  The sitting was adjourned due to lack of quorum.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the members, observers and others.

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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) – a member organization of FAFEN.