ISLAMABAD, June 19, 2014: The Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday, condemning the Lahore killings and asking the Punjab Government to take action against police officials involved in the incident during 5th sitting of the 13th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Though MQM lawmaker and PPPP female legislator tabled separate resolutions to condemn the Model Town incident yet the Chair asked them to club these together and present as one resolution.
Six lawmakers- PPPP (3) and one each of PML-F, MQM and PML-N –took part in the debate that continued for 44 minutes.
Meanwhile, eleven lawmakers – three each of PPPP and MQM, two each of PTI and PML-F and one PML-N member – took part in budget debate that continued for three hours and 24 minutes.
PML-N lawmakers protested over the remarks of Minister for Education on the issue of Kalabagh Dam. PPPP and PTI lawmakers staged separate protests within the House when their lawmakers accused each other of naming roads, schools and hospitals after the names of their leaders and relatives.
PPPP members also protested when a PML-F lawmaker called Provincial Minister for Information as “Gullo Butt”, the character who allegedly damaged public property in the presence of police during Lahore incident.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for four hours and 55 minutes.
- The sitting began at 1030 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 30 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for four hours and three minutes, while the Deputy Speaker presided over the proceedings for 40 minutes. A member of panel of the chairpersons chaired the sitting for 12 minutes.
- The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 38 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and 25 minutes.
- Finance Minister was present for 38 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MQM and PML-F attended the sitting.
- Twelve members were present at the outset while maximum 69 were there at the adjournment.
- Four minority members attended the sitting.
- None of the member applied for the leave.
Output
- The House adopted a resolution to condemn Lahore incident. MQM lawmaker and PPPP female legislator tabled separate resolutions to condemn the incident at Model Town Lahore but the Chair asked them to club these together for being identical.
- Six lawmakers- PPPP (3) and one each of PML-F, MQM and PML-N -participated in the debate on this resolution that continued for 44 minutes.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Eleven lawmakers – three each of PPPP and MQM, two each of PTI and PML-F and PML-N (one) – took part in budget debate that continued for three hours and 24 minutes.
- The Question Hour was deferred during the sitting.
Order and Institutionalization
- PML-N lawmakers protested within the House over remarks of Provincial Minister for Education on the issue of Kalabagh Dam.
- PPPP and PTI lawmakers staged separate protests within the House when lawmakers of their party accused each other of naming roads, schools and hospitals after the names of their leaders and relatives.
- PPPP protested again when a PML-F lawmaker called Provincial Minister for Information as `Gullo Butt”, the character who allegedly damaged public property in the presence of police during Lahore incident.
- Four points of order consumed six 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
