FAFEN
ISLAMABAD: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has released its comprehensive report on the performance of the 16th National Assembly of Pakistan during its first 100 days, shedding light on notable trends and shortcomings in legislative activity.
One of the key observations highlighted in the report is the sluggish pace of legislation within the National Assembly (NA).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attendance at only two sittings, amounting to 10%, following his election as Leader of the House, underscores this lethargy.
Similarly, the report notes minimal attendance from federal ministers, exacerbating the legislative inertia.
Comparatively, the attendance records of past leaders such as the PTI founder and former Prime Minister are cited, with their attendance rates at 29% and 26%, respectively, during the initial 100 days of their terms.
In contrast, the Leader of the Opposition, Omar Ayub, demonstrated a significantly higher attendance rate of 88% in the NA sittings.
The report also draws attention to the role of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who collectively chaired 84% of the proceedings.
However, a substantial portion of the plenary time, approximately 30%, was consumed by Points of Order, potentially detracting from substantive legislative discussions.
In terms of legislative output, the NA held 23 sittings, spanning over 66 hours and 33 minutes. However, the delayed formation of standing committees impeded the assembly’s performance, with the committees established more than a month behind schedule according to the rules.
Moreover, the NA currently faces a shortfall of 26 members, with unresolved legal disputes over the eligibility of the Special Interest Group (SIC) for representation on seats reserved for women and non-Muslims pending in the Supreme Court.
Despite these challenges, members of the NA collaborated to raise 28 Calling Attention Notices, primarily focusing on governance issues, particularly in the energy and power sectors.
Notably, SIC lawmakers sponsored the highest percentage of calling attention notices at 29%, followed closely by PPPP at 25%, while each of PMLN and JUIP lawmakers sponsored 18%, and independents raised 4%.
In essence, while the NA made efforts to address pressing issues, the FAFEN report underscores the need for enhanced legislative efficiency and adherence to procedural timelines to fulfill its constitutional mandate effectively.
