Languishing bills

Among the stains on NA’s record is the fact that it allowed 176 private member bills to simply languish.

As it nears the end of its five-year term, parliament will be remembered for passing some of the most consequential legislation amendments in our history. It has approved not only the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Amendments to the Constitution, it has also passed many much-needed bills on human rights issues. That does not mean, however, that its conduct has been beyond reproach. Among the stains on the National Assembly’s record is the fact that it allowed 176 private member bills to simply languish. It should go without saying that the National Assembly’s only essential task is to debate and vote on proposed bills. Being so negligent in this vital function reflects poorly on it.

That the bills which were not considered originated as private member bills actually makes it worse. A lot of times, private member bills come from women parliamentarians whose legislation does not get prioritised and may even be actively discouraged by their parties. Bringing such bills up for debate allows ignored questions like women’s and minorities’ rights to be debated. This helps decide where to cast our vote in the future. That there seems to be an understanding not to bring such bills up for a vote that transcends party lines only goes to show just how badly the initiative of private member bills is needed.

One way to solve this problem would be through a change to parliamentary rules. Right now, there is no time limit on how soon the National Assembly has to vote after a private member bill has been introduced. Parliamentary committees also do not have to present a report on these bills within a specified time. Parliament needs to set the same rules for private member bills as it has for other proposed legislation. There is no reason these bills should not receive the same importance as others. So long as bills have the requisite number of votes needed to pass, no other roadblocks and impediments should be put in the way.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.