ISLAMABAD, January 23, 2017:  The Provincial Assembly of Sindh took up entire business appearing on the agenda and deferred consideration of the Sindh Payment of Wages Bill, 2015 until next sitting, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Monday.

The Minister for Works and Services tendered his apologies on floor of the House for using offensive remarks against a PML-F female lawmaker during previous sitting.

Following are key observations of proceedings during fourth sitting of 29^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and one minute.
• The sitting started at 1123 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The proceedings were suspended for three minutes for prayers break.
• The Speaker was not present as he is performing his duties as acting Governor of Sindh.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 32 minutes while rest of the proceedings were chaired by a Member of Panel of Chairpersons.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for an hour and 43 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for 44 minutes.
• Thirty-nine lawmakers (23%) were present at the start and 47 (26%) at the adjournment of sitting.
• The Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM and PTI were present.
• Three minority members also attended the sitting.
• Eight members applied for leave.

Output

• Tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House deferred consideration of the Sindh Payment of Wages Bill, 2015 until next sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Seven Starred Questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministers. The lawmakers also asked 26 Supplementary Questions.
• The Chair rejected an Adjournment Motion (AM) sponsored by PTI lawmaker regarding the misappropriation of funds by the Provincial Government disclosed in Auditor General of Pakistan’s report after being opposed by the government. Three lawmakers spoke on the subject, consuming 25 minutes of the proceedings.
• The House took up six out of eight Call Attention Notices (CANs) on various issues of public importance. The remaining two CANs were deferred due to the absence of relevant minister as well as the mover.
• A lawmaker belonging to PPPP raised a matter of public importance. The Chair ordered the concerned minister to look into the matter and address the member’s concerns.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on two Points of Order, consuming 19 minutes of the proceedings.
• The proceedings remained suspended for 14 minutes due to the protest of PML-F female lawmaker against the Minister for Works and Services for passing offensive remarks against her during the last sitting.
• A PML-N female lawmaker walked out of the House twice on 1211 hours and 1354 hours, respectively against the Chair for not allowing her to speak on a Point of Order. She did not come back until the adjournment of sitting.
• An MQM lawmaker protested for two minutes against the attitude of the Chair for not given floor to raise a Supplementary Question.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was not available on website of the Assembly.

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.