Sindh Assembly standard time


Hafeez Tunio June 01, 2010

KARACHI: A senior journalist once told me that in his 15-year career, he has seen the Sindh Assembly start on time only twice. An MPA who did not wish to be named said that he had been elected thrice to the House, but not a single session had started on time. Some MPAs barely make it to the House in time for its adjournment.

Indeed, even I cannot remember the last time the elected representatives of this province managed to make it on time. The sessions are supposed to start at 9:30 am but rarely do they start before 11:30 am.

But leave aside the punctuality of the decisionmakers of our province. Let us focus instead on their actual job, which is to make legislation and highlight issues. Most of the members prefer to gossip more than they like to debate matters affecting people. The chair often draws their attention to a debate when they are caught gossiping in the middle of it, but after the speaker’s warning, they go right back to talking among themselves.

When they are not talking, they are often seen flooding the chief minister with papers to sign or submitting complaints. The CM is never left alone to listen to whatever is being said during the session as one member or the other takes the opportunity to slide near him and bring up his business.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2010.

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