What Parliament does in Pakistan, at considerable cost to the exchequer, needs no explanation
ISLAMABAD: The role and functions of Parliament assume great significance in a parliamentary democracy. Parliament derives its power directly from the consent of the people expressed through periodic elections and it exists to implement the will of the people. The role of parliaments around the globe has transformed tremendously over the years. It is no more confined to only enacting legislation. Parliament now performs a variety of functions. Some of its cardinal roles and functions include ensuring executive accountability, law-making, control over the federal budget, and so on. It also has other functions such as allowing representation in policymaking and legislation of the electorate, and is also used as a tool to disseminate information to the public on the legislations that it passes and on the proposed laws that it seeks to pass.
That said, what Parliament does in Pakistan, at considerable cost to the exchequer, needs no explanation. One sincerely hopes that we see a change in the way it functions in Pakistan and that its members give something back to the millions whose votes put them there.
Hashim Abro
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.
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