After 40 years, lawmakers modify rules to make the House more efficient. PHOTO: FILE
After 40 years, the Sindh Assembly has changed nearly 50 rules in its procedures in an attempt to make the House more efficient.
Sindh has, once again, become the first province to take this step. With almost 50 additions, the Rules of Procedure of the Sindh Assembly will now have 22 chapters. A briefing on the new rules, formed in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme, was chaired by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani at Avari Towers hotel on Friday.
According to the new rules, the sessions will now start at 10am instead of 9am to make sure the lawmakers arrive on time. The 100 days of the Sindh Assembly have been divided into 11 months — July will be a holiday.
The longest month for the legislators will be June with 15 days of sessions, followed by September, December and March with 12 days. The rest of the months will have seven days. All legislators will now make their own plans based on this schedule so there are no absences. One rule also specifies that a newly formed provincial assembly cannot hold more than seven days worth of sessions without appointing an opposition leader, once a chief minister is elected.
The provincial budget will be checked strictly as the lawmakers have decided to discuss it every quarter before putting it for final approval. “The members were not fully aware of what kind of a budget they were discussing and where and how it will be utilised,” explained parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikander Mandhro. “It was an injustice to public funds.”
A new chapter titled ‘Call Attention’ has also been included, in which a member can easily raise special questions of public importance. “It is a very important rule,” stressed Dr Mandhro. Moreover, a lawmaker will not be arrested by any law-enforcing agency during the session or from the premises of the assembly as the entire area has been declared the precincts of the August House.
All on board
The orientation session on Friday was attended by Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Syed Sardar Ahmed, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Mehtab Rashdi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Haji Shafi Muhammad Jamote and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Khurram Sher Zaman.
Dr Mandhro was happy to share that members of all political parties in the assembly supported him when he was preparing the rules since September. “The legislation rights to the Sindh Assembly were given about 123 years ago,” he informed, adding that the first rules were made in 1935 and the last ones were amended in 1973.
No doubt, Friday was a crucial day. “It is a historical day for the Sindh Assembly,” said Durrani. “I hope all members will read it carefully and follow them during the sessions.” Even deputy speaker Shehla Raza was happy to report that the other parties were also demanding copies. “This only happens where political will exists.” Even the parties in opposition were in favour. “We were facing difficulties in past,” admitted MQM’s Sardar Ahmed. “The pre- and post-budget discussion is a good change.” Making amendments was not an easy job, he said.
“Nothing will go by without the assembly’s attention now,” pointed out Rashidi. “We own it and the credit for changing the old rules goes to Sindh.”
PTI’s Zaman was happy about the change in timings as he always complained of the House being empty every time he reached at 9am. “At least my fellows will reach on time now,” he smiled. “I hope our discussions won’t go to waste now.” He suggested conducting training sessions for members to understand the rules.
New assembly building to open next year
Former president Asif Ali Zardari will inaugurate the Sindh Assembly’s new building next year, announced Sindh speaker Agha Durrani.
On Friday, Durrani was giving a briefing on the new rules of the Sindh Assembly. “He is very interested in the new building and always asks me about its status,” he said.
Durrani admitted he is more comfortable now in his speaker’s chair, as the one during the previous tenure was small for his size. “I can understand the members’ pain when they complain they don’t have comfortable seats,” he said, hoping that the new seats will be more comfortable.
He also advised all MPAs to avail the residential facility at the MPA hostel. “A separate tower for women is also being made with a beauty parlour.”
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Erum Farooque suggested minimising the use of papers in the assembly by introducing computers for each member. “You’ll have more such facilities in the new building, please wait,” Durrani promised.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.
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