Night_Hawk
Siasat.pk - Blogger
The performance of our lawmakers is less than inspiring. But when legislators show lack of seriousness in discussing such sensitive matters as the country’s worst-ever natural disaster, some introspection is in order. According to a report in this newspaper, only 10 per cent of members participated in a National Assembly debate on the flood situation in the recently concluded session, which was specially requisitioned by the opposition to discuss the disaster.
Members veered wildly from the agenda, spending a large part of the session criticising each other. The floods were only discussed on the third and final day. Resolutions that had nothing to do with the floods were adopted; 30 points of order — statements and speeches and not actual points of order — gobbled up nearly five hours of the session; on the last day only about 21 lawmakers were present, indicating that the house was clearly inquorate.
The problems highlighted in the report, which quotes figures from the Free and Fair Election Network, a watchdog body, are perennial. Figures suggest that even in normal times only half of the lawmakers participate in the house’s proceedings while many items on the agenda remain unfulfilled. This non-serious attitude is not limited to the National Assembly; provincial legislators usually turn in similarly lacklustre performances. We must ask the question: do our lawmakers understand what is expected of them as elected representatives of the public? The prime minister has called for an all-parties conference to discuss the floods. But what will be the use of such an exercise, considering that the politicians failed to utilise their time for this purpose in parliament? Better discipline in the house and improved legislative output is in order, especially concerning vital matters such as flood relief and rehabilitation. Otherwise the impression that politicians are callous, self-serving and petty will only be reinforced.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...-newspaper/editorial/nonserious-lawmakers-190
Members veered wildly from the agenda, spending a large part of the session criticising each other. The floods were only discussed on the third and final day. Resolutions that had nothing to do with the floods were adopted; 30 points of order — statements and speeches and not actual points of order — gobbled up nearly five hours of the session; on the last day only about 21 lawmakers were present, indicating that the house was clearly inquorate.
The problems highlighted in the report, which quotes figures from the Free and Fair Election Network, a watchdog body, are perennial. Figures suggest that even in normal times only half of the lawmakers participate in the house’s proceedings while many items on the agenda remain unfulfilled. This non-serious attitude is not limited to the National Assembly; provincial legislators usually turn in similarly lacklustre performances. We must ask the question: do our lawmakers understand what is expected of them as elected representatives of the public? The prime minister has called for an all-parties conference to discuss the floods. But what will be the use of such an exercise, considering that the politicians failed to utilise their time for this purpose in parliament? Better discipline in the house and improved legislative output is in order, especially concerning vital matters such as flood relief and rehabilitation. Otherwise the impression that politicians are callous, self-serving and petty will only be reinforced.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...-newspaper/editorial/nonserious-lawmakers-190