No laws enacted by new MPs in 2013

There were high expectations of the National Assembly throughout 2013, particularly in the wake of a fateful democratic transition. But the attitude of most of its 342 members has been a little indecorous.

The 14th National Assembly came into being after the May 2013 general elections which capped the first ever democratic transition of power in the country’s 66-year history – a move that grabbed headlines across the globe.

This year, the word ‘change’ echoed throughout the year in the streets and parliament was no exception – but little ‘change’ did we witness. Fake degree holders still managed to sneak in, all the tall claims made at election rallies still remain a distant dream and most lamentably, a low attendance in the National Assembly became a hallmark of the new ‘democratic’ leadership.

Those who remained away from the lower house proceedings can’t be overlooked. They are members without whom debates will be futile. They include key federal ministers, parliamentary leaders of political parties and most embarrassingly, the man who made history after being elected prime minister for the third time – Nawaz Sharif.

As we bid farewell to 2013, the National Assembly has wrapped up its seventh session. The leader of the house was rarely seen and his appearances in the house can be counted on one’s fingertips.

Since the premier’s oath-taking, the opposition has cried itself hoarse and said that the PM does not bother to attend assembly sessions unlike former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who had never been absent with exceptions of foreign tours.

The current ruling party, unlike its predecessor, due to the strong grip of the Sharif brothers is, ironically, known for being bit rigid on disciplinary issues. But nothing really worked. Finally, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was assigned the task, after repeated humiliations and adjournments of the house, to make sure that PML-N members attended the sessions.

Moreover, what apart from sheer non-seriousness can account for the fact that the house standing committees were elected after missing several deadlines, making it impossible for the National Assembly to perform its required functions for the longest time. And that was not the end: after the delay in elections of over 30 standing committees, the election of their heads was dawdled upon as well.

With standing committees not functional, the 14th National Assembly has not passed a single bill in its first seven months, or done any legislative business, save the passage of the Finance Bill 2013.

The government has so far introduced 11 bills this year whereas members, in their personal capacity, have introduced only eight bills.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2013.