Government, Parliament Must Act Fast on Creating an Independent and Effective Accountability Organisation; Provinces Should Follow Suit: PILDAT

Islamabad, March 14; Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, in his very first speech in the National Assembly on March 29, 2008, promised to disband National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and create instead an independent Accountability Commission as envisaged in the Charter of Democracy signed by the PML-N and the PPP leaders.  Two years  down  the line, this

unfulfilled promise is one of the greatest failing of the current Government and to some extent the Parliament which has allowed the Holders of Public Offices (Accountability) Bill 2009 to stay with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for 11 months since its introduction in the National Assembly on April 15, 2009. While the law is far from passed, the existing accountability mechanism in the form of the NAB is in limbo. It appears to suit the powerful that the NAB stays as a lame duck institution while the high profile accused persons, including the failed beneficiaries of the NRO, breeze through the Accountability Courts........... >> Details

Citizens Group on Electoral Process Issues Background Paper on the State of Electoral Rolls in Pakistan

• Electoral Rolls must be Corrected and Updated using the NADRA Database

• CNIC and Voter Registration must be a One-Window Operation

• Progressive and Constructive Attitude of the current ECP Leadership appreciated

• Need for Inquiry and Detailed Report by the ECP in Preparation of Computerised Electoral Rolls ahead of February 2008 General Election

Islamabad, March 08; The Citizens’ Group on Electoral Process-CGEP, a non-partisan Group of eminent Pakistanis facilitated by PILDAT has demanded that the present Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan should conduct an enquiry into the making of Computerised Electoral Rolls 2007 for the purpose of fixing responsibility and learning lessons for the future.......... >> Details

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PILDAT Legislative Brief: The Competition Ordinance 2007

PILDAT recommends modifications to the Competition Law before it is passed by the Senate of Pakistan

Islamabad: The PILDAT Legislative Brief on the Competition Ordinance recommends that the Senate should pass the law after modifications to the existing text relating to the appointment of the members and chairperson of the Competition Commission, who should be appointed following consultation with the Opposition in the Parliament.......... >> Details

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Women Parliamentarians top the List of Movers of Private Members’ Bills

Islamabad, March 4; A PILDAT analysis of Private Members’ Bills moved during the second year (March 17, 2009 – March 16, 2010) of the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan indicates that Women Parliamentarians have been the most active legislators during the year. Total 58 Private Member’s Bills were submitted during the year out of which 48 were introduced in the National Assembly for consideration.26 of these bills were moved by single members while the remaining 12 bills were jointly moved or co-sponsored by more than 1 member. Out of the 26 single member’s Bills, 22 or 85 % were introduced by women parliamentarians all of whom were returned on reserved seats for women.......... >> Details

The Second Parliamentary Year of the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan
 

• 29 Laws passed by the 13th National Assembly in the Second Year compared to 4 Laws in the First Year

• The Acts to Ordinance Ratio Improved in Second Year: 29 Acts Vs 27 Ordinances compared to 4 Acts Vs 17 Ordinances in the First Parliamentary Year

• Prime Minister maintains his tradition of attending the National Assembly sittings more regularly than any Prime Minister in the recent history of Pakistan

• 13th National Assembly met for 344 Hours and 27 Minutes during the Second Parliamentary year which is 24% more time than the First Parliamentary Year

• Parliament’s Role to Resolve National Conflicts and Crises remains weak

• Senior MPs fail to set Standards of active Parliamentary Participation for Younger MPs

• Key Legislation such as Holders of Public Offices (Accountability) remains Pending

Islamabad, March 01; PILDAT, in its preliminary report on the completion of the Second Parliamentary Year of the current (13th) National Assembly of Pakistan, has noted a significant improvement in legislation but most of the other performance indicators are in general stagnant at the same level as the first Parliamentary year.......... >> Details

Bridging the gap between Parliament and Civil Society

PILDAT initiates Directory and Database to link Parliamentary Committees and Civil-Society Organisations (CSOs) 

Islamabad, February 25: PILDAT has undertaken the initiative to prepare a Directory and an Electronic Database of Civil-Society Organisations (CSOs) and Parliamentary Committees as a part of an effort to bring Parliament and the Civil Society Organisations closer. Linkages of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) including the professional bodies, research and advocacy organisations with the Parliament and Parliamentary Committees are essential to get an independent view from the society about the issues under consideration. This is even more essential in Pakistan as the Parliament and Parliamentary Committees have limited in-house research capacity. This linkage will also help the Civil Society Organisations to put across their point of views to the Parliamentary committees and thus further the cause they are working for.......... >> Details

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