ISLAMABAD, June 20, 2014: The Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted two resolutions and continued debate on the provincial budget (2014-15) during 6th sitting of the 13th session on Friday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Tabled by MQM lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution condemning the killing of lawmaker Tahira Asif in Lahore. Five lawmakers- MQM (3), PPPP and PML-N (one each) participated in the debate for 17 minutes.
A PPPP female lawmaker tabled another resolution to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto on her 61st birthday which was also adopted. Nine lawmakers- PPPP (3), MQM and PML-F (two each), PTI and PML-N (one each)- took part in the discussion and spoke for 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, seven lawmakers- PPPP (3), MQM (2), one each of PML-F and PML-N –took part in the ongoing budget debate that continued for two hours and 38 minutes.
PTI lawmakers protested over the PPPP lawmaker’s criticism against their party leadership.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 41 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1022 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 22 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for three hours and 14 minutes, while the Deputy Speaker presided over the rest of the proceedings.
- The Chief Minister and Finance Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and 11 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
- As many as eight members were present at the outset while 58 were there at the end of the sitting. A maximum of 77 members were present at one point of sitting.
- Four minority members attended the sitting.
- None of the members applied for leave.
Output
- Tabled by MQM lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution condemning the killing of lawmaker Tahira Asif. Five lawmakers- MQM (3), PPPP and PML-N (one each) participated in the debate for 17 minutes.
- A PPPP female lawmaker tabled another resolution to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto on her 61st birthday, which was also adopted. Nine lawmakers- PPPP (3), MQM and PML-F (two each), PTI and PML-N (one each)- took part in the discussion for 16 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Seven lawmakers- PPPP (3), MQM (2), one each of PML-F and PML-N –took part in the budget debate that continued for two hours and 38 minutes.
- The Question Hour was deferred during the sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- PTI lawmakers protested over the PPPP lawmaker’s criticism against their party leadership.
- Four points of order consumed three minutes of the proceedings.
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
