OR MONIT
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL 2016-17 ARLIAMENT
Fourth Parliamentary Year of 14th National Assembly AFEN P F FREE AND FAIR ELECTION NETWORK www.fafen.org I www.openparliament.pk ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL 2016-17 National Assembly of Pakistan 01 ABBREVIATIONS
AJIP Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan
ANP Awami National Party
APML All Pakistan Muslim League
AMLP Awami Muslim League Pakistan
BISP Benazir Income Support Program
BNP Balochistan National Party
CANs Calling Attention Notices
CDA Capital Development Authority
FATA The Federally Administered Tribal Areas
ICT Islamabad Capital Territory
IND Independent Member
JI Jamaat-e-Islami
JUI-F Jamiat-e-Ulema-Islam (Fazlur Rehman)
MQM Muttahida Qaumi Movement
MUR Motion under Rule
NP National Party
NPP National Peoples Party
PkMAP Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
PML Pakistan Muslim League
PML-F Pakistan Muslim League (Functional)
PML-N Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
PML-Z Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed)
PPPP Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians
PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
QWP-S Qaumi Watan Party (Sherpao) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL 2016-17 National Assembly of Pakistan 02 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION OF LAWMAKERS DECLINE IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY n National Assembly passes 11 Private Members' Bills n Considerable improvement seen in committees' output n PM attends six, Leader of the Opposition 63 sittings n No participation by 69 lawmakers throughout fourth parliamentary year
The 14th National Assembly registered a the House approved 59 pieces of legislation. decline in attendance and participation of The uniqueness of fourth year's legislation was lawmakers in the proceedings during fourth the passage of 11 Private Members' bills, as the parliamentary year as compared to preceding Assembly did not pass any non-treasury years. The lawmakers average per-sitting legislation during last three years. attendance decreased from first year's 65% to 60% this year. Similarly, the number of active The committees' output also witnessed a lawmakers dropped from 304 to 270 in four considerable increased from 120 reports last years. As many as 69 lawmakers did not year to 154 reports this year. The Assembly also contribute anything to parliamentary agenda adopted 40 resolutions, of which 18 were or debates during fourth year. sponsored by private lawmakers. The instance of protests, walkouts and identification of The Assembly also witnessed decrease in quorum also witnessed an increase as parliamentary interventions used for executive compared to the preceding year. The oversight and public representation i.e. CANs, lawmakers staged 53 protests and pointed out Motions under Rule 259 and Questions. The quorum 41 times during the reporting period, lawmakers raised 31% less CANs, 22% less whereas these numbers were 49 and 26, Questions and 18% less Motions under Rule respectively last year. 259 during fourth year than previous years. The Assembly took up 74% of its regular agenda Amidst increasing political friction, the items while the remaining were left Assembly addressed the crucial issues of unaddressed either due to absence of military courts, electoral reforms and FATA concerned lawmakers or early adjournment of reforms during fourth year. It approved the proceedings. 28th Constitutional Amendment to extend the term of military courts for another two years. The Assembly marked slight improvement in These courts were set up under the 21st the legislative yield as compared to the Constitutional Amendment in January 2015 and preceding year by approving 61 bills. Last year, became dysfunctional on expiry of the initial ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL 2016-17 National Assembly of Pakistan 03 two-year term. This time, a Parliamentary reiterated their support for the Kashmiris Committee on National Security was against increasing human rights violations by established to review the performance of the Indian forces in the occupied valley. A joint military courts. session of the Parliament was convened to discuss Kashmir issue and Indian ceasefire The House also took legislative action to violations along the Line of Control. The issue address the economic and financial matters, came under discussion through a Motion under judicial reforms, institutional development and Rule 259 and an Adjournment Motion as well. reforms and human rights. In addition, the bills were passed on the subjects related to The House witnessed a dozen protests of security, education, health, governance, opposition lawmakers over the Panama Papers elections, accountability, environment, case demanding the Prime Minister to resign. agriculture, parliamentary affairs and Following Supreme Court's verdict in the case, prevention of electronic crimes. The the opposition tried to move a Privilege Motion government initiated legislation on FATA against the Premier for making false statement reforms package as well by introducing the on the floor of the House. However, the Chair Constitution (Thirteenth) Amendment Bill, 2017 did not allow the motion to be made. The and the Tribal Rewaj Bill, 2017 to give effect to House rejected the opposition's Panama the reforms. Papers Inquiry Commission Bill which was initiated in the Senate and transmitted to the The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Lower House. Instead, the House approved the Reforms (PCER) presented its second interim treasury's legislation namely the Pakistan report along with a Draft Elections Bill 2017 to Commissions of Inquiry Bill. the House in December 2016. The government also moved an election-related constitutional The House also made changes to its Rules of amendment titled as the Constitution (Twenty- Procedure and Conduct of Business to give the seventh) Amendment Bill in the Assembly. Senate representation in the Public Accounts However, the momentum for electoral reforms Committee and to reform the practices appeared to have receded in latter half of the regarding Question Hour and committees. The year in wake of political controversies gripping amendments to the rules of Question Hour the Assembly proceedings slowing the related to the online submission of questions' progress on draft Elections Bill and the 27th notices, time period for submitting questions constitutional amendment. and balloting of questions. Moreover, the House also bound the ministries to inform their The House, through resolutions, made relevant standing committees about recommendations to the government on the implementation of the committees' matters related to governance and energy recommendations on the development-related sectors besides reflecting its resolve against budgetary proposals. terrorism related issues. The lawmakers also ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL 2016-17 National Assembly of Pakistan 04