ISLAMABAD, May 11, 2015: The Sindh Assembly witnessed low attendance of lawmakers on Monday as the House discussed a report on budget expenditures and utilization during the third quarter of the current fiscal year, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 69 minutes behind the schedule with 38 lawmakers (23%) present at the start and 52 (31%) at the time of adjournment. Twelve members (four each from MQM and PPPP, two from PML-F and one each from PTI and PML-N) debated the quarterly report for 75% of the proceedings’ time.

The House adopted a resolution to devise an acceptable criterion for promotion of BPS-19, 20 or 21 officers in all service groups.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and seven minutes.
• The sitting started at 1109 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 35 minutes.
• The remaining proceedings were chaired by a member of the Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 93 minutes.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 31 minutes.
• 38 members (23%) were present at the start and 52 (31%) at the end of the sitting.
• As many as 68 members (40%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-N, PML-F and PTI were present.
• Four out of nine minority members attended the sitting.
• Two members applied for leave.

Output

• The House adopted a resolution tabled by a PPPP lawmaker to devise an acceptable criterion for promotion of BPS-19, 20 or 21 officers in all service groups.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House discussed a report on budget expenditures and utilization during the third quarter of the current fiscal year for 140 minutes.
• Twelve members (four each from MQM and PPPP, two from PML-F and one each from PTI and PML-N) participated in the discussion. 

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine points of order (POs) consumed 20 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

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

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.