PILDAT issued its scorecard relating to the performance of the 14th National Assembly’s 3rd Parliamentary Year. The scorecard shows that the overall performance of the National Assembly declined by 5 percentage points at 43% from 48% during the previous parliamentary year. The performance, when compared with five-year average of the 13th (previous) National Assembly, which stood at 49%, has also declined.
The report figures accountability as the weakest area of the National Assembly in 2015-2016 (at 32%) as in previous years. It says that as per the Rules of Procedure, the sole authority to oversee conduct of Members of National Assembly (MNA) in the House lies with the Speaker of the National Assembly, who can, at his/her discretion, suspend an MNA or adjourn a sitting.
The institute recommended that the National Assembly forge a code of conduct for members and also urged that MNAs file their assets and liabilities statements with the NA in addition to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The scorecard says that the attendance of MNAs remained dismal in 2015-2016 and was recorded at 61% of the membership, with 206 of 340 members being present on average per sitting. However, over the 103 sittings this year, quorum was lacking 17 times. The report also indicate that while many MNAs may have attended the House but many more only stayed long enough to mark their attendance and did not actually join the proceedings.
PM Nawaz Sharif attended 10% of the sittings during the year 2015-16 while in the previous year he attended 36% of sittings. Imran Khan attended only 5% of the sittings during the year. Khursheed Shah has an impressive attendance of 73% at the sittings. Iftikharud Din of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) topped the attendance list with 85% attendance. The scorecard gives the score of 50% to NA for adequately representing the citizens of Pakistan.
The National Assembly received its highest score of 51% for its legislative capacity in 2015-2016 but the report also points out that no significant strides were made in the financial oversight of the NA. The legislature saw an active membership that presented 42 private members’ bills, up by a significant 62% from the previous year when 26 bills had been presented.
Another observation made in the PILDAT’s report card concerns Public Approval Rating of the National Assembly which declined from 60% in 2014 to 49% in 2015.
The scorecard gave a score of 46% on transparency as NA began uploading legislators’ attendance online whereas the NA also witnessed a decline in involvement in foreign policy from 41% to 34%.
LHC seeks final arguments in petition challenging appointment of MPAs with public sector Cos.
