PM among 64 lawmakers completely absent from 37th NA session
FAFEN report says only 168 lawmakers attended each sitting of the session on average
FAFEN report says only 168 lawmakers attended each sitting of the session on average
Sixty-four lawmakers including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not attend a single sitting of the 37th National Assembly session, a report by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has revealed.
According to the record published on the National Assembly website, only 168 (49 per cent) lawmakers attended each out of the nine sittings on average, the report added.
Besides the premier, other lawmakers remaining absent belong to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the National Party (NP) and the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP). Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah also remained absent from five sittings of the session.
The report further revealed that attendance remained particularly low in a number of sittings with three meetings adjourned due to lack of quorum.
Imran plays truant in lower house
It went on to add that the actual attendance was even lower as on average, with 34 (10 per cent) lawmakers present at the outset of each sitting and 54 (15 per cent) at the adjournment.
On November 20, it was revealed that PTI chairman Imran Khan had been barley attending the National Assembly for almost three-and-a-half years despite being the elected representative of over 0.25 million NA-56 registered residents.
During this period, the National Assembly collectively held 374 sittings [comprising of 36 regular sessions and 10 joint sessions of parliament] of which Imran Khan attended only 22 – almost a little less than six per cent of the total sittings. However, he continues to draw a salary and other privileges an MNA is paid out of the national kitty.
According to the record published on the National Assembly website, only 168 (49 per cent) lawmakers attended each out of the nine sittings on average, the report added.
Besides the premier, other lawmakers remaining absent belong to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the National Party (NP) and the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP). Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah also remained absent from five sittings of the session.
The report further revealed that attendance remained particularly low in a number of sittings with three meetings adjourned due to lack of quorum.
Imran plays truant in lower house
It went on to add that the actual attendance was even lower as on average, with 34 (10 per cent) lawmakers present at the outset of each sitting and 54 (15 per cent) at the adjournment.
On November 20, it was revealed that PTI chairman Imran Khan had been barley attending the National Assembly for almost three-and-a-half years despite being the elected representative of over 0.25 million NA-56 registered residents.
During this period, the National Assembly collectively held 374 sittings [comprising of 36 regular sessions and 10 joint sessions of parliament] of which Imran Khan attended only 22 – almost a little less than six per cent of the total sittings. However, he continues to draw a salary and other privileges an MNA is paid out of the national kitty.