50 MPAs have not spoken a word in Sindh Assembly in three years

Female members outshine male counterparts, move most questions, resolutions during assembly sessions, reveals report

KARACHI: Sindh Assembly members spent billions of rupees on various development projects and availed a number of perks and privileges but have little to say during the sessions. The three year progress report of the 168 members revealed that more than 50 have not uttered a single world during the sessions.

MPAs are supposed to represent their people and constituencies but these representatives prefered to stay mum. This poor performance is not only limited to members from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP); the performance of many members from the opposition benches was also subpar.

According to official records, each MPA earns a salary of more than Rs150,000, along with other benefits, every month and Rs40 million is given to them for development work each year. The report, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, states that PPP MPA Bashir Ahmed Halepoto, who won the election from PS-55 Badin, has not uttered a single word in the assembly. Neither has he asked any questions, nor moved any bills, resolutions, adjournment motions or raised issues confronted by his constituency’s people. He is one of the many backbenchers who regularly attend sessions but do not contribute.



Of 168 members, 95 are from the PPP and 35 of those ruling party members have not spoken during assembly sessions. The report, which compiles data from May 29, 2013 to May 28, 2016, stated that another PPP MPA, Ghulam Abid Khan, who won the last general election from PS-17 Kashmore, is among those do not put forward any pieces of legislation. Sardar Ahmed Chandio from Kamber-Shahdadkot district, Faqirdad Khoso, Masood Araen and Faseh Shah from Shaheed Benazirabad, Ikramullah Dharejo from Ghotki, Makhdoom Rafique Zaman from Matiari and Aziz Jatoi from Larkana are among other PPP lawmakers whose three year performance has been dismal.

"I was busy with constituency matters and have also moved questions that are not on the agenda as yet," justified Jatoi. Zaman, on the other hand, said there was no need to talk during the session, as the government resolves the issues faced by the people promptly. “The government resolves the issues of the people living in my constituency, however, we take up the issues in parliamentary party meetings if needed," he said. When asked about legislation, he said, "My support on bills or resolutions is enough. I don't need to talk about it.”

On the opposition benches, former chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who now belongs to Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and Adil Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) rarely attend sessions. During each session, a member from their party submits a leave application for them giving various reasons for their lack of attendance, which is then accepted by the PPP government.   Justifiying his absence, Rahim said he has been feeling unwell lately and feels ‘insecure’ while attending the sessions.



Ghulam Rasool Jatoi of PML-N, who hails from Naushero Feroz district, Waryam Faqir and Khuda Bux Rajar of PML-Functional also had nothing to say during the sessions. Meanwhile, Aijaz Shah Sheerazi Humayoon Khan of PML-N has only asked one question in the last three years.

Women dominate

The performance of two women has outshone all other members in the assembly. Nusrat Seher Abbasi of PML-F and Heer Soho of the MQM have moved more questions and resolutions than anyone else in the Sindh Assembly.

The progress report reveals that Abbasi moved 1,334 questions, 81 resolutions and 46 call attention notices. Soho moved 1,037 questions, 20 short notices and 38 call attentions.

Naila Muneer and Naheed Begum of the MQM moved 261 and 223 questions respectively in the last three years. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Seema Zia is one of the most active members in the House and has spoken on a number of issues. She has moved around 64 questions, 16 resolutions and eight call attention notices.



PPP MPA Khairunisa Mughal submitted around 162 questions, 26 resolutions and five call attention notices.

Out of the male members, MPAs Khurrum Sher Zaman of the PTI and Aamir Moen Pirzada of MQM have performed well.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Abbasi said that she has moved more questions than the ones listed but the assembly secretariat has a slow process of scrutinising them and adding them to the agenda. "Our primary job is to make laws and represent people and highlight their issues, but unfortunately, majority of the members are not interested in doing this," she lamented.

Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said that the assembly secretariat always provides equal opportunities to all members but women have always outshined the men. "The Sindh Assembly has performed better than all provincial assemblies of Pakistan," he said referring to a Free and Fair Election Network report.