ISLAMABAD: The average attendance per sitting of the National Assembly (NA) declined by 13pc over the last five years during which 100 sittings had to be suspended or adjourned due to a lack of quorum, says a report issued by Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen).

According to Fafen’s observation, 345 (74pc) out of 468 sittings commenced and concluded with less than one-fourth of the House membership (86 of the 342 members) which is required under the rules for maintaining quorum to run the house proceedings smoothly.

“A total of 100 sittings had to be suspended or adjourned due to the lack of quorum, while at 45 instances, the required number (one-fourth of the total membership) was completed on the first headcount.”

The parliamentary observation reveals that the quorum was visibly lacking at numerous occasions but was ignored by legislators as well as the chair.

“Analysis of attendance patterns suggests a link of the falling attendance rate with weak enforcement of parliamentary rules of procedure and general disinterest among political leaders to participate in parliamentary business.”

The annual average attendance per sitting declined from 222 (65pc) legislators during the first year to 193 (56pc) during the fifth year. Similarly, session-wise attendance average fell from 311 (91pc) per sitting during the first session in June 2013 to 192 (56pc) in the last session that was prorogued sine die in March 2018.

According to the official records, each NA sitting was attended by an average of 60pc legislators of the 342-member house. Only five sittings were attended by 301 or more legislators while 42 sittings were attended by 251 to 300 legislators. A total of 212 sittings had an attendance between 201 and 250 legislators, 174 between 151 to 200 legislators, 33 between 101 and 150 legislators while two sittings were attended by less than 100 legislators.

The attendance also fluctuated on weekdays. The average attendance on midweek days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) was higher than the first and last working days of the week (Monday and Friday).

A comparison of the attendance patterns of legislators, the prime minister (PM) and the party chief whips (CWs) reveals that an average attendance declined during those sittings when the PM and the party CWs were absent. Similarly, weak application of parliamentary rules regarding leave of absence also seemed to have a negative impact on attendance.

According to the rules of procedure, the lawmakers may lose their seats if they stay absent from the proceedings for 40 consecutive sittings without leave of the assembly. However, the House did not process motions for de-seating legislators who had remained absent for more than 40 consecutive days during the 2014 protest against the government.

Rules for taking leave require lawmakers to submit an advanced application to the speaker. Enforcement of this rule remained weak as legislators did not incur any costs on disregarding it which encourages the practice of remaining absent from the proceedings without notice.

Examination of the assembly’s verbatim records shows that at least 13 lawmakers never applied for their leave of absence. As many as 12 of these lawmakers belonged to the treasury benches - PML-N - and one to the PTI.

Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khwaja Asif and Sheikh Aftab, minister of state Usman Ibrahim, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi were among the legislators whose applications for leave of absence were never called out. Nevertheless, the speaker and the deputy speaker often had to perform important parliamentary duties in their chambers as well.

Lawmakers drew the attention of the House to the quorum 145 times during 130 sittings since the inauguration of the incumbent assembly. As many 15 sittings witnessed multiple quorum identifications.

Attendance of MNAs

According to the Fafen’s data, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed and PML-N MNA Kiran Haider are found to be most punctual in the assembly as both of them attended 461 sittings out of total 468 sittings held so far since 2013.

Besides, parliamentary secretary Raja Javed Ikhlas attended 425 and Minister of State for Finance Rana Mohammad Afzal 412 sessions.

Among the list of those having poor attendance, the name of PML-N MNA and former Sindh chief minister Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar is at the top of the list as he attended only 18 sittings. Hamza Shahbaz, the son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was found to be present only in 26 sittings.

MNA Faryal Talpur came to the house only 42 times whereas former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali and PPP MNA Asad Sikandar attended 61 sittings, former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi 63 sittings, former KP chief minister Amir Haider Hoti 62 sittings and parliamentary leader of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar attended 80 sittings.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan graced the assembly with his presence for only 20 times.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2018