A scathing FAFEN report has laid bare the absenteeism plaguing Pakistan’s National Assembly during its 23rd session, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif absent from all sittings. Joined by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, this elite truancy highlights a systemic disdain for parliamentary duty amid national crises.
From January 12 to 22, 17% of members (56 out of 332) boycotted entirely, and 276 missed at least once. Cabinet ministers fared worse: only one fully attended, seven not at all. The Express Tribune editorial fumed that such behavior from the top ‘mocks democracy’ and incentivizes lower ranks to follow suit.
Attendance spiked to 222 for a parliamentarian-benefiting bill, exposing hypocritical priorities—personal gain over public service. Historical data shows recurrence, with prior sessions mirroring this neglect.
As experts sound alarms on democracy’s erosion, the report demands introspection. In a nation reeling from economic distress, leaders’ parliamentary absence isn’t just negligence—it’s a betrayal of public mandate, fueling cynicism and calls for stricter oversight.