KARACHI, Dec 30: The Sindh Assembly's performance between November of 2003 to November of 2004, in terms of the legislation work done, was neither great nor poor.

A look at its record reveals that during the stated period the House adopted seven government bills and enforced 12 Acts, including amendments to five Acts.

Of the 238 adjournment motions received by the assembly secretariat, general discussion was allowed on only 12 motions, including two that were moved by Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, pertaining to the murder of MPA Abdullah Murad and the water situation in the province.

In addition, discussion was held on the admissibility of the adjournment motion regarding the bye-election in NA 229 Tharparker whose notice was given by Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

Of the 756 total questions received, 192 were disallowed, while only 376 were answered on the floor of the House. Highest number of questions was asked about the health department (72), followed by education (62), home (53) and local government (46).

Out of 42 privilege motions, two were referred to the privileges committee, while on the privileged motion moved by Nawab Ali Wasan the speaker reserved his ruling on its admissibility. The motion was about his illegal detention by the police in Mirpurkhas.

During the period under review, the assembly secretariat received 51 motions but only one was passed, while others lapsed. Likewise, of 16 private bills only one was introduced, which was passed, and of the 672 resolutions received, only six were passed.

All the eight resolutions that were moved jointly were adopted, however. The House in its 11 sittings, spread over 71 days, had five one-day sessions and one requisitioned session, which was held from Sept 3 to six.

The names of the Acts, which were adopted, are: The Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) (Amendment) Act, 2004; The Institute of Business and Technology Act, 2004; The Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education Act, 2004; The Sindh (Eradication and Curbing the Menace of Involuntary Donation or Forced Chanda) Act, 2004; The Preston University Act, 2004 (passed by the assembly on 17-06-1999); The Sindh Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 2004; The Sindh Race-Courses Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2004; The Sindh Tax Evasion (Punishment) (Amendment) Act, 2004; The Sindh Finance Act, 2004; The Dow University of Health Sciences Act, 2004; The University of East Act, 2004 (passed by the assembly on 10-09-1999); and, The Sindh Information Technology Board (Amendment) Act, 2004.

The names of the government bills are: The Sindh Special Assistants (Appointments, Powers, Functions, Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Bill, 2003 (passed by the assembly on 26-04-2004 and sent to the law department for the governor's assent); The Sindh Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2004 (passed by the assembly on 26-04-2004 and returned by the governor with a message under paragraph (B) of Clause (2) of Article 116 of the Constitution vide law department letter dated 12th August), 2004); The Private Universities and Educational Institutions Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2004; The Sindh Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2004; The Consumer Protection Bill, 2004; The Indus Institute of Higher Education Bill, 2004; and, The Sindh Institute of Trauma Orthopaedics and Illizarov Bill, 2004.

The adjournment motions on which discussions were held for more than one day are: identical adjournment motions moved by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, MPA, and other MPAs regarding the murder of Abdullah Murad, MPA, March 20 to April 23; out-of-turn adjournment motion moved by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, MPA, regarding water shortage, from Sept 23 to 27; and, adjournment motion whose notice was given by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, MPA, regarding bye election on NA-229 (Tharparker), from Sept 22 to 27.

The speaker reserved his ruling on the admissibility of the privilege motion whose notice was given by Nawab Ali Wasan, MPA, regarding his illegal detention by the police in Mirpurkhas, from Sept 21 to 27.