No doubt, the analysis provided by Pildat, a think tank that conducts periodic analyses of legislative assemblies, presents a sardonic comment on the seemingly extraordinary performance of our National Assembly, or the 16h National Assembly, that managed to pass more laws in its first year despite convening for fewer days and hours than the preceding lower house of parliament.
The Pildat chief has, however, made it clear in so many words that assembly’s enhanced output or performance should not be mistaken for increased efficiency or improved conduct.
According to him, ’’most of the laws were hurriedly passed without any meaningful debate in the standing committees or within the full house amid strong protests“.
It is interesting to note that India, the world’s so-called largest democracy, too, is experiencing an identical performance of its lower house of parliament where laws are being passed without comprehensive debates.
Needless to say, free and open discussions and debates in both the houses of parliament and the relevant standing committees are critical to not only the efficacy of legislation but also the very existence of democracy.
Any law or laws that are passed without the required discussions and debates are usually bereft of real legislative rigours. Debates and discussions constitute a critical necessity to make the needed adjustments before the passage of bills.
The 16th National Assembly of Pakistan, therefore, needs to take stock of the situation by making efforts towards strengthening parliamentary democracy in the country where military has directly ruled for more than three decades.
Shahid Randhawa (Faisalabad)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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