In this Issue
The National Assembly of Pakistan
- Democratic Process Follows with the Re-election of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq
- Ministers must Inform House on Progress
- Legislators Give Mixed Responses to ISPR Statement
The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
- Fair Distribution of Resources Resonate in Assembly
- Balochistan Assembly Calls for Gas Supply to Harnai
The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
The National Assembly of Pakistan
Performance Indicators |
Session 25 |
Session 26 |
Sittings |
4 |
6 |
Bills Passed |
3 |
2 |
Resolutions Passed |
1 |
5 |
Attendance of Prime Minister |
1 sitting (25%) |
1 sitting (17%) |
Attendance of Leader of Opposition |
4 sittings (100%) |
4 sittings (67%) |
Attendance of MNAs |
69% |
47% |
Democratic Process Follows with the Re-election of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq takes oath, administered by Acting
Speaker, Murtaza Javed
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, MNA, has been re-elected to the post of Speaker of the National Assembly in the aftermath of NA-122 bye-polls. During a sitting on November 09, 2015 the Members of the National Assembly voted for the position of Speaker. Sardar Sadiq secured 268 votes while member of the Opposition, Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, MNA, (NA-126, Punjab, PTI) secured only 31. This is a positive indication of the democratic process being followed, where the Speaker was lawfully de-seated by an Election Tribunal in August 2015 and has been legitimately re-elected to the post.
Ministers must Inform House on Progress
The Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, MNA, (NA-52, Punjab, PML-N) announced to the House various comprehensive measures being taken to control corruption and improve performance in the subordinate organisations of the Ministry of Interior. It is highly unfortunate that while Federal Ministers are answerable to the Parliament, yet most Ministers are hardly ever present in the Parliament, let alone inform the House about progress within their Ministries. This suggestion of the Minister would substantially improve the oversight of the Parliament over the performance of the Government in addition to their reporting to Committees. PILDAT strongly supports Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s important suggestion that the Business Advisory Committee should create rules making all Ministers bound to present their performance to the House. In addition, the Annual Year Books by each Ministry should be regularly laid in the House.
Legislators Give Mixed Responses to the ISPR Statement
The ISPR released a statement on November 10, 2015 stating “the need for matching / complimentary governance initiatives for long-term gains of operation and enduring peace across the country,”1 which was unfortunate and uncalled for. Even more unfortunate had been the voices in the Parliament that seemed to justify the statement. Syed Khursheed Shah, MNA, (NA-199, Sindh, PPPP) termed it an “important hint” while Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, MNA, stated that it should be a matter of concern for the PML-N. The controversy ebbed its way into the Senate where Parliamentarians expressed their disappointment with governance, however assured the Government of their continued support.
Performance Indicators |
Session 121 |
Sittings |
10 |
Bills Passed |
1 |
Resolutions Passed |
6 |
Attendance of the Prime Minister |
None |
Attendance of Leader of the House |
10 sittings (100%) |
Attendance of Leader of Opposition |
7 sittings (70%) |
Attendance of Members of Senate |
60% |
On November 02, 2015, Senator Taj Haider, PPPP tabled the National Accountability Amendment Bill as a Private Members’ Bill to restrict NAB’s jurisdiction to Federal departments and ministries. The Bill was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights. Senator Haider stated that the 18th Amendment passed in 2010 provided for greater autonomy to the provinces and anti-corruption is now a residuary subject.
With already limited impact on social indicators of the 18th Amendment, and a growing disparity between the four provinces, PILDAT recommends that this amendment does not stand. Senator Haider undoubtedly introduced the amendment to improve the efficiency of anti-corruption agencies at the Provincial level. However, Parliamentarians ought to be wary of the fact that this may create disparities on the policies and procedures governing corruption. The governance of corruption ought to be uniform at the Federal and Provincial levels.
NACTA Functions without a Chairman
As part of its oversight activities, Senator Talha Mehmood, JUI-F, held the Government accountable for the inordinate delay in recruitment to the National Counter Terrorism Authority – NACTA, through a question posed on November 11, 2015. The agency has been without a formally appointed Chairman for the past six years, which is approximately how long it has existed. The Government informed the Senate that NACTA still has no service rules. To date, vacant posts are filled either from the Establishment Division or through fresh recruitment. Minister Baligh ur Rehman, while informing the Senate that new service rules had been prepared, did not indicate when they would be implemented.
The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
Performance Indicators |
Session 22 |
Sittings |
6 |
Bills Passed |
1 |
Resolutions Passed |
4 |
Attendance of Leader of the House |
The Balochistan Assembly has still not made MPAs attendance records public unlike other legislatures |
Attendance of Leader of Opposition |
|
Attendance of Members of Senate |
Fair Distribution of Resources Resonate in Assembly
Legislators of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan passed four resolutions during the 22nd session. The resolutions focused on the equitable distribution of resources to the Province from the entire country. One issue that has resounded over the course of the third Parliamentary year in both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been that of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
On November 12, 2015, a resolution directed at the Federal Government to immediately allocate funds for the development of western route of the CPEC was passed unanimously. During the debate, Mr. Zamrak Khan, MPA, (PB-12, Balochistan, ANP) who tabled the resolution, noted that despite the declarations of the APC held in April that funds has not been allocated for the western route. All MPAs agreed with the sentiments shared with Former Speaker, Mir Jan Jamali, MPA, (PB-25, Balochistan, PML-N), that “Balochistan has to be the major beneficiary of CPEC.”2
Balochistan Assembly Calls for Gas Supply to Harnai
In line with the sentiments of Baloch MPAs regarding the fair distribution of resources to the province, the House adopted a resolution November 09, 2015 regarding gas supply to Harnai District and its adjacent areas. Sardar Raza Muhammad Barrech, MPA, (PB-4, Balochistan, PkMAP) tabled the resolution in light of the fact that gas reserves had been discovered in areas of Harnai district. The resolution justifiably refers to Article 158 of the Constitution that “The Province in which a well-head head of gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan.”3
The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Performance Indicators |
Session 15* |
Sittings |
7 |
Bills Passed |
3 |
Attendance of Leader of the House |
The KP Assembly has still not made MPAs attendance records public unlike other legislatures |
Attendance of Leader of Opposition |
|
Attendance of MPAs |
*Information for the month of November 2015
