ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2014: The Sindh Assembly adopted three resolutions and carried a motion to defer the election of the standing committees on Monday during 9th sitting of 12th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
The government also withdrew a bill namely the Sindh Coal Authority Bill, 2014. The proceedings witnessed differences between the Chair and the ministers over the understanding of rules of procedure and conduct of business in the House. The provincial ministers for education and information objected to the Chair for allowing more points of order than usual.
Through a resolution sponsored by PPPP lawmaker, the House condemned the federal ministry of Health Services for dissolving the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council by promulgating an ordinance. Another resolution called upon the government to close illegal outlets from the branch and main canals and take action against the culprits. A resolution, brought by a female lawmaker of MQM recommended the government to arrange for the vocational and technical training in juvenile jails of the province.
The House also took up all five calling attention notices regarding checking of CNG cylinders, observation of the job quota for disabled candidates, discharging industrial water in agricultural lands, alcohol shops in residential areas and the details of amount deposited by OGDC Gas Company for Sanghar.
A PML-N legislator did not press upon taking up his privilege motion as he said the concerned official had apologized to him. The Chair declared an adjournment motion out of order.
The members raised 18 points of order consuming 46 minutes of the proceedings. A PTI lawmaker staged an eight minute long walkout against the government for not taking action on the issues taken up through CANs.
The House also took up three of the four starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Forest and Wildlife Department. The relevant parliamentary secretary responded to the questions as the minister was not present. The members asked 21 supplementary questions as well.
A PTI lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum but it was found complete.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 25 minutes taking a three-minute break.
- The sitting started at 1120 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 20 minutes.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting as the Speaker was absent.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 50 minutes and the Leader of the Opposition for 40 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, PML-N, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
- Fifteen members were present at the outset while 44 at the adjournment. A maximum of 93 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
- Five minority members attended the sitting.
- No member applied for the leave.
- Through a resolution sponsored by PPPP lawmaker, the House condemned the federal ministry of Health Services for dissolving the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council by promulgating an ordinance. Another resolution called upon the government to close illegal outlets from the branch and main canals and take action against the culprits. A resolution, brought by a female lawmaker of MQM, recommended the government to arrange for the vocational and technical training in juvenile jails of the province.
- The government withdrew a bill namely the Sindh Coal Authority Bill, 2014.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up all five calling attention notices regarding checking of CNG cylinders, observation of the job quota for disable candidates, discharging industrial water in agricultural lands, alcohol shops in residential areas and the details of amount deposited for Sanghar by OGDC Gas Company.
- The House took up three of the four starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies) directed to the Forest and Wildlife Department. The relevant parliamentary secretary responded to the questions as the minister was not present. The members asked 21 supplementary questions as well.
- A PML-N legislator did not press upon taking up his privilege motion as he said the concerned official had apologized to him. The Chair declared an adjournment motion out of order.
Order and Institutionalization
- The members raised 18 points of order consuming 46 minutes of the proceedings.
- A PTI lawmaker staged an eight-minute long walkout against the government for not taking action on the issues taken up through CANs.
- The same PTI lawmaker also pointed out the lack of quorum but it was found complete.
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
