ISLAMABAD, April 29, 2014: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning the load-shedding in the province, while the PML-N lawmakers didn’t take part in it and left the House during 16th sitting of the 12th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Tabled by Minister for Education, the resolution stated that the Federal Ministry of Water and Power is discriminating with the province of Sindh in provision of power supply despite repeated demands and protests. The House demanded to pay heed to resolve public sufferings and exempt water pump stations from the load-shedding.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah expressed his reservations for disconnecting power supply in various areas of Sindh and argued that the Constitution allows the province to have distribution power in addition to power generation. He said there is an issue with the federal government regarding payment of dues and a letter has been written to Prime Minister for settling the issue through discussion.
Qaim Ali Shah warned that those involved in disconnecting power supply would be arrested in future as a last resort.
PML-F and PTI lawmakers protested for one minute in the presence of Chief Minister over discrimination in release of development funds.
The lawmakers raised eight points of order consuming 12 minutes of the proceedings.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings
- The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and three minutes, taking three-minute Azan break.
- The sitting started at 1022 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 22 minutes.
- The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 38 minutes while a member of panel of chairpersons presided over the remaining proceedings.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 2 hours and 15 minutes while the slot for Leader of the Opposition is still vacant.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
- Twenty-five members were present at the outset while 74 at the adjournment. A maximum of 76 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- Seven minority members attended the sitting.
- Two members applied for leave.
- Tabled by Minister for Education, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the load-shedding in the province. However, the members of PML-N didn’t take part in it.
- Thirty-two lawmakers – PPPP (14), MQM (12), PML-F (5), and PTI (1) – took part in the debate for two hours and 34 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up all four starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) which were responded to by the Minister for Parliament Affairs and Minister for Industries. The members asked 26 supplementary questions as well.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers raised eight points of order consuming 12 minutes of the proceedings.
- PML-F and PTI lawmakers protested for one minute over discrimination in release of development funds in the presence of Chief Minister. The Chair announced to adjourn the House soon after this protest.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN
