FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR

Transcription

1 PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH FAFEN PARLIAMENT MONITOR 35th SESSION July 24 - July 31, 2017 Free and Fair Election Network

2 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CAN CM MQM NPP PO PM PML-F PTI PML-N PPPP Calling Attention Notice Chief Minister Muttahida Quami Movement National Peoples Party Points of Order Privilege Motion Pakistan Muslim League-Functional Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian

3 35th Session: Sindh PA passes six bills, adopts four resolutions The Provincial Assembly of Sindh passed six government bills and adopted four resolutions during 35th session that comprised six sittings held between July 24, 2017 and July 31, The approved legislation included the Sindh Accountability Bill, 2017, the Sindh Removal from Service (Special Powers) (Repeal) Bill, 2017, the Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017, the Sindh Differently Able Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017 and the Sindh New Captive Power Plants Subsidy Bill, The last two were passed by the Assembly during previous session as well but were returned by the Governor to the House for reconsideration. The House reapproved these bills without any amendment. The Sindh Accountability Bill, 2017 and the Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017 were referred to the standing committees for review and were passed after the presentation of relevant committees' reports. Through resolutions, the lawmakers demanded the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign from his office and congratulated the former President Asif Ali Zardari on his 62nd birthday. The House also adopted resolutions condemning the incident of rape in Multan and urging the Sindh government to computerize the police records and introduce e-complaint system in police stations. Moreover, four resolutions appearing on the List of Business were left unaddressed. The lawmakers' average attendance per sitting was 66 (40%) including six minority members. On an average, 31 (19%) members present at commencement and 52 (31%) at the adjournment of a sitting. Moreover, each sitting witnessed an average delay of 84 minutes and lasted two hours and 46 minutes. The longest (first) sitting of the session that continued for seven hours and one minute while the shortest (fifth) met for just two minutes. The cumulative duration of six sittings was 16 hours and 38 minutes. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker attended four and six sittings respectively. The Speaker presided over the proceedings for 10 hours and 18 minutes (62%) and the Deputy Speaker for six hours and 20 minutes (38%). The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended three sittings for nine hours and 20 minutes (56%) while the Leader of the Opposition attended two sittings for six hours and 14 minutes (37%). The Parliamentary Leaders of PPPP and MQM attended five sittings each followed by the leaders of PML-F and PTI who were present in four and two sittings respectively. The leaders of PML-N and NPP remained absent throughout the session. The Question Hour was held in five sittings of the session. Out of 35 Starred Questions, the House took up 23 questions (66%) for on-floor answers by the relevant ministers. The lawmakers also asked 110 supplementary questions for further elucidation of ministers' replies. The lawmakers also submitted 16 Call

4 Attention Notices (CANs) to draw government's attention to the issues of public importance. The House took up 11 of these CANs for ministerial statements. Nine CANs were related to the department of Local Government, two each to departments of Zakat & Usher, Revenue and Irrigation and one was related to the department of Health. The House did not address any of the five Private Motions submitted by the lawmakers to highlight governance issues. The lawmakers staged a protest and a walkout during the session. The PML-N lawmakers protested for five minutes during first sitting over refusal by the Chair to allow a party lawmaker to speak during the proceedings. The entire opposition walked out from proceedings during third sitting against the passage of the Sindh Accountability Bill, The Lawmakers spoke on 12 Points of Order (POs) during the session consuming 23 minutes of the proceedings. The government laid the annual performance report of the Sindh Revenue Board for the year Two PPPP lawmakers jointly moved a Question of Privilege (QoP) against the Director General National Accountability Bureau for his statement about accountability legislation in the Sindh. The House referred the QoP to the relevant standing committee for review.

5 SECTION 1 SESSION TIME, ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION This section gives a statistical overview of the session covering the number of sittings, duration of sittings, attendance and participation of members in the House proceedings. Total Sittings Session Duration Average Delay Total Break 6 16 hours 38 minutes 1 hour 24 minutes 00 minutes

6 SITTING DATE, DURATION AND ATTENDANCE The lawmakers' average attendance per sitting was 66 (40%) including six minority members. On an average, 31 (19%) members present at commencement and 52 (31%) at the adjournment of a sitting. Moreover, each sitting witnessed an average delay of 84 minutes and lasted two hours and 46 minutes. The longest (first) sitting of the session that continued for seven hours and one minute while the shortest (fifth) met for just two minutes. The cumulative duration of six sittings was 16 hours and 38 minutes July, July, July, 2017 Total Time 7:01 Total Time 2:21 Total Time 0:02 Late Start 0:25 Late Start 1:31 Late Start 0:58 at Start 56 at Start 17 at Start 12 at Adjournment 85 at Adjournment 58 at Adjournment 13 Minority 7 Minority 6 Minority July, July, July, 2017 Total Time 2:50 Total Time 2:34 Total Time 1:50 Late Start 1:55 Late Start 1:55 Late Start 1:40 at Start 22 at Start 45 at Start 31 at Adjournment 43 at Adjournment 62 at Adjournment 52 Minority 7 Minority 6 Minority 6

7 KEY MEMBERS ATTENDANCE The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker attended four and six sittings respectively. The Speaker presided over the proceedings for 10 hours and 18 minutes (62%) and the Deputy Speaker for six hours and 20 minutes (38%). The Leader of the House (Chief Minister) attended three sittings for nine hours and 20 minutes (56%) while the Leader of the Opposition attended two sittings for six hours and 14 minutes (37%). 4 I Presided for 62% of total session s time Attended Sittings Speaker 6 I Presided for 38% of total session s time Attended Sittings Deputy Speaker Attended 3 I Sittings Chief Minister Attended Spent 56% 2 I Sittings Leader of the Opposition Spent 37% PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ATTENDANCE The Parliamentary Leaders of PPPP and MQM attended five sittings each followed by the leaders of PML-F and PTI who were present in four and two sittings respectively. The leaders of PML-N and NPP remained absent throughout the session. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro Syed Sardar Ahmad Nand Kumar Samar Ali Khan PPPP attended 5 sittings MQM attended 5 sittings PML-F attended 4 sittings PTI attended 2 sittings

8 SECTION 2 REPRESENTATION, RESPONSIVENESS AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT This section gives statistical as well as qualitative overview of legislator's interventions in the House Calling Attention Notices (CANs), Questions, Adjournment Motions (AM) or any other motions for the oversight of government and to articulate issues of public interest and importance. Starred Questions 35 CANs 16 Private Motions 5

9 QUESTIONS As per Rule 38 of the Sindh Assembly, the House holds a 60-minute question hour at the outset of a sitting except on the sittings falling on Saturdays, Sundays and the day set for oath taking/elections of key members. The Question Hour was held in five sittings of the session. Out of 35 Starred Questions, the House took up 23 questions (66%) for on-floor answers by the relevant ministers. The lawmakers also asked 110 supplementary questions for further elucidation of ministers' replies. Taken up STARRED QUESTIONS: 35 Not Taken up SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS: 110 CALL ATTENTION NOTICES A lawmaker can call the attention of a minister/department head for any matter involving law and order situation or a definite matter of urgent public importance, by submitting one calling attention notice per sitting. According to Rule 69 of the Sindh Assembly, a calling attention notice cannot be debated and the member moving the notice cannot respond to the reply furnished by the government. The lawmakers also submitted 16 Call Attention Notices (CANs) to draw government's attention to the issues of public importance. The House took up 11 of these CANs for ministerial statements. Nine CANs were related to the department of Local Government, two each to departments of Zakat & Usher, Revenue and Irrigation and one was related to the department of Health. The House did not address any of the five Private Motions submitted by the lawmakers to highlight governance issues. 11 Total Deferred Not Taken Up Taken Up

10 PRIVILEGE MOTIONS Two PPPP lawmakers jointly moved a Question of Privilege (QoP) against the Director General National Accountability Bureau for his statement about accountability legislation in the Sindh. The House referred the QoP to the relevant standing committee for review. Ghulam Qadir Chandio Syed Awais Qadir Shah PPPP Mr. Altaf Bawani, director general, National Accountability Bureau in a TV programme on KTN News said that this is a law which has bad intention on its face. Such irresponsible statement by a public servent against the legislation is an attack on the sancity of the house which has not only breached my privilege as a legislator but has also breached the privilege of the whole house, my privilege motion my be considered in the house and be referred to the committee on rules of procedure and privilege.

11 SECTION 3 PARLIAMENTARY OUTPUT This section deals with the legislative business, resolutions, amendment to the rules, reports and documents presented before the House during the session. Bills on Agenda 6 Resolutions Reports on Agenda 8 3

12 LEGISLATION Lawmaking on matters of national and provincial importance through rigorous debate is the most important function of a legislature. This section reviews the nature, status and consideration of government and private member legislations tabled during the session. The approved legislation included the Sindh Accountability Bill, 2017, the Sindh Removal from Service (Special Powers) (Repeal) Bill, 2017, the Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017, the Sindh Differently Able Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017 and the Sindh New Captive Power Plants Subsidy Bill, The last two were passed by the Assembly during previous session as well but were returned by the Governor to the House for reconsideration. The House reapproved these bills without any amendment. The Sindh Accountability Bill, 2017 and the Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017 were referred to the standing committees for review and were passed after the presentation of relevant committees' reports. PASSED BILLS The Sindh Removal from Service (Special Powers) (Repeal) Bill, 2017 The National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017 The Sindh New Captive Power Plants Subsidy Bill, 2017 The Sindh Accountability Bill, 2017 The Sindh Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2017 The Sindh Differently Able Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 RESOLUTIONS The Assembly's regular business included 22 resolutions of which six were adopted, two were rejected and three were disposed of due to absence of the concerned lawmakers. The remaining 11 resolutions were left unaddressed. However, the House adopted seven supplementary resolutions as well which were not part of the regular agenda. Through resolutions, the lawmakers demanded the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign from his office and congratulated the former President Asif Ali Zardari on his 62nd birthday. The House also adopted resolutions condemning the incident of rape in Multan and urging the Sindh government to computerize the police records and introduce e-complaint system in police stations. Moreover, four resolutions appearing on the List of Business were left unaddressed. DETAILS OF ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS Asking PM Nawaz Sharif to resign forthwith in the wake of Panama leaks Paying tribute to former President Asif Ali Zardari on his 62nd birthday Condemning the incident of rape in Multan To computerize the record in Police Stations and introduce E-Complaint System in the Province

13 SECTION 4 ORDER AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION Order and institutionalization is important for an efficient and productive legislature. This section provides information about Points of Order, Questions of Privilege, Quorum and any instances of walkout, protest or boycott during the proceeding. Points of Order 12 Protest and Walkouts 2

14 POINTS OF ORDER According to Rule 232 of the Rules of Procedures of Sindh Assembly a point of order shall relate to the interpretation or enforcement of the rules or the interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution on regulating the business of the Assembly. The Speaker is required to give a ruling on these issues and no discussion or debate is allowed on any point of order, but the Speaker may hear a member before giving his decision. The Lawmakers spoke on 12 Points of Order (POs) during the session consuming 23 minutes of the proceedings. 1st Sitting 2nd Sitting 3rd Sitting 4th Sitting 5th Sitting 6th Sitting 2 2 POs minutes consumed 2 2 POs minutes consumed 0 0 POs minutes consumed 1 4 POs minutes consumed 0 0 POs minutes consumed 7 15 minutes POs consumed WALKOUT/PROTEST/BOYCOTT The Provincial Assembly witnessed thirteen incidents of protests and walkouts by the opposition lawmakers. Cumulatively, these protests including five walkouts consumed an hour and seven minutes of the proceedings. The dissenting lawmakers staged eight protests on floor of the House consuming 38 minutes of the proceedings. The lawmakers staged a protest and a walkout during the session. The PML-N lawmakers protested for five minutes during first sitting over refusal by the Chair to allow a party lawmaker to speak during the proceedings. The entire opposition walked out from proceedings during third sitting against the passage of the Sindh Accountability Bill, st Sitting Protest (PML-N) Reason: Over not allowing their colleague to speak during the proceedings and alleged unparliamentary remarks of a provincial minister against the Prime Minister of Pakistan 5 minutes 3rd Sitting Walkout (Opposition Lawmakers ) Reason: Against the passage of the Sindh Accountability Bill, minutes

15 GLOSSARY SINDH ASSEMBLY Terms Definitions

16 Terms Definitions

17 Terms Definitions

18 About FAFEN FAFEN is one of the most credible networks of civil society organizations working for strengthening citizens' voice and accountability in Pakistan since FAFEN has harnessed information technology for real-time monitoring, facilitation and technical backstopping of partners for effective and result-based program delivery. FAFEN is the only civil society group to have been invited by the Judicial Commission to present the evidence of illegalities and irregularities documented through the course of General Elections 2013 Observation. The systemic and procedural issues identified by FAFEN have been acknowledged by the commission in its detailed findings. FAFEN's recommendations for electoral reforms have contributed to the work of Parliamentary Committee for Electoral Reforms. FAFEN's advocacy for parliamentary transparency, accountability and reforms has shaped public discourse on parliamentary reforms. Improved citizens' access to parliamentary information including daily public release of parliamentarians' attendance records can be directly attributed to FAFEN's work. FAFEN deployed 18,000 and 40,000 non-partisan and trained observers for the systematic observation of general election 2008 and 2013, respectively, largest citizens' observation ever undertaken in Pakistan. FAFEN's evidence and recommendations for reforms have improved the quality of public and political discourse on elections, its issues and need for reforms. Leading political parties and media houses extensively use FAFEN's election findings and analysis to build a case for reforms. With more than 18,200 followers on Twitter and around 117,000 on Facebook, FAFEN is considered one of the most reliable sources of electoral and parliamentary information in the country. I Free and Fair Election Network