ISLAMABAD, February 3, 2015: Starting 36 minutes behind the schedule, the eighth sitting of the Sindh Assembly’s 18th session witnessed the introduction of a bill and unanimous passage of two resolutions amid low attendance of legislators, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Only nine members (5%) were present at the start of the sitting and 54 (32%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House was not present during the sitting, while the Opposition Leader attended most of the proceedings.

An MQM member introduced the Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 which was referred to the relevant standing committee. Meanwhile, the House did not consider the Sindh Institute of Management and Technology Bill 2015 tabled by a private member.

The House adopted two resolutions regarding uninterrupted supply of 650MW electricity to K-Electric and implementation of five percent quota for minorities in government departments. Two other resolutions regarding promotion of doctors and appointment of Public Accounts Committees’ chairpersons in national and provincial legislatures with the consent of their respective Opposition Leaders were rejected. Another resolution regarding postings of Hur Mujahid personnel was deferred till the next sitting.

The House also took up an adjournment motion regarding ghost employees in the Education Department. However, the motion was rejected by the Speaker for being “non-maintainable”.

Additionally, five private motions regarding unregistered seminaries, corrupt police officials, mass transit project in Karachi, establishment of a central library in each district of Sindh and installation of firefighting equipment in buildings were not taken up during the sitting.

Another agenda item regarding amendments in the Sindh Assembly’s Rules of Procedure was also left unaddressed. Furthermore, the House did not take up a PML-N lawmaker’s privilege motion against inappropriate remarks of a PPPP legislator.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and three minutes.
• The sitting started at 1036 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 48 minutes while the rest of the proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for three hours and 45 minutes.
• Nine members (5%) were present at the start and 54 (32%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 78 members (46%) were present during the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PML-F, PPPP and PML-N were present.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• One member applied for leave.

Output

• An MQM member introduced the Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 which was referred to the relevant standing committee.
• The House did not consider the Sindh Institute of Management and Technology Bill 2015 tabled by a private member.
• The House adopted two resolutions regarding uninterrupted supply of 650MW electricity to K-Electric and implementation of five percent quota for minorities in government departments.
• Two other resolutions regarding promotion of doctors and appointment of Public Accounts Committees’ chairpersons in national and provincial legislatures with the consent of their respective Opposition Leaders were rejected.
• Another resolution regarding postings of Hur Mujahid personnel was deferred till the next sitting on Friday.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Four out of five starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up and responded by the relevant ministry. In addition, the MPAs raised 24 supplementary questions.
• The House took up an adjournment motion regarding ghost employees in the Education Department. However, it was rejected by the Speaker for being “non-maintainable”.
• Five private motions regarding unregistered seminaries, corrupt police officials, mass transit project in Karachi, establishment of a central library in each district of Sindh and installation of firefighting equipment in buildings were also not taken up.
• A PML-N lawmaker’s privilege motion against a PPPP legislator’s inappropriate remarks was also not taken up during the sitting.

Order and Institutionalization

• Members spoke on 14 Points of Order that consumed 32 minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the members, observers and others.

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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) – a member organization of FAFEN