ISLAMABAD: A survey carried out by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has revealed a five percentage point-decline in the overall performance of the National Assembly.
PILDAT had ranked National Assembly’s performance at 48 per cent last year. The latest survey, for the third parliamentary year, shows the performance of the lower house standing at 43 per cent. The performance, when compared with five years average of the 13th (previous) National Assembly, which stood at 49 per cent, has also declined.
“Accountability has consistently been the weakest area of the National Assembly in 2015-2016 (at 32%) as well as in previous years. While the Senate of Pakistan is making crucial reforms through the creation of a Committee on Ethics and development of a code of conduct, no such initiative has been undertaken in the National Assembly,” a PILDAT statement said.
“As per the rules of procedure, the sole authority to oversee conduct of Members of National Assembly (MNA) in the house lies with the speaker of the National Assembly, who can, at his/her discretion, suspend an MNA or adjourn a sitting. PILDAT strongly recommends that the National Assembly develops and enforces a code of conduct for members, which has long been overdue.”
