A new attendance report released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has exposed significant absenteeism during the 23rd session of the National Assembly, held from January 12 to January 22, 2025. The data reveals that 83% of lawmakers missed at least one sitting, with several high-profile leaders failing to attend a single day of the session.
Read FAFEN’s MNA Attendance Report to check your MNAs’ attendance.
https://t.co/wMjaX8wafj#ParliamentWatch #FAFEN #NationalAssemblyOfPakistan #PublicAccountability #democracy #Parliamentattendance #PakistanPolitics #legislativeperformance #Session23 pic.twitter.com/8SmWl0EqsY— FAFEN (@_FAFEN) February 7, 2026
Leadership Absenteeism and Cabinet Participation
According to the FAFEN analysis, only 56 members (17%) of the 332-member House attended all seven sittings. Most notably, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were absent for the entirety of the session.
The report also highlights a lack of engagement from the federal cabinet. Out of all ministers, only Khalid Hussain Magsi (BAP) maintained a perfect attendance record. Seven federal ministers—including Ahsan Iqbal, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Syed Mustafa Kamal—did not attend a single sitting.
قومی اسمبلی کے 23ویں سیشن میں حاضری پر فافن (FAFEN) کی رپورٹ!
332 میں سے 276 ارکان کم از کم ایک اجلاس میں غیر حاضر رہے۔ صرف 56 ارکان نے تمام نشستوں میں شرکت کی۔
وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف، نواز شریف اور بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے ایک بھی اجلاس میں شرکت نہیں کی۔
7 وفاقی وزراء پورے سیشن سے… pic.twitter.com/D6OftNGPGu— Farhan Khan (@TheFarhanAKhan) February 9, 2026
Session Highlights and Legislative Activity
Despite the low average attendance, the House managed to pass significant legislation during its most attended sitting (67% attendance on the sixth day):
- Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025: A controversial bill aimed at limiting public disclosure of legislators’ assets and liabilities, citing privacy and security concerns.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Bill, 2025: Establishing guidelines for for-profit companies registered with the SECP.
In contrast, the third sitting saw the lowest turnout, with only 41% of members present. Paradoxically, this was the day eight government bills were introduced and two ordinances were laid, raising concerns about the level of scrutiny applied to new legislation.
Calls for Reform: Strengthening Article 66
In light of these findings, FAFEN has urged Parliament to operationalize Article 66 of the Constitution through new legislation. Currently, FAFEN argues that committee powers remain “symbolic” due to a lack of enforceable oversight mechanisms.
The report links these internal weaknesses to external assessments, noting that International Monetary Fund (IMF) reviews have previously criticized Pakistan’s executive dominance and limited transparency in parliamentary oversight.
Key Attendance Statistics:
- Total MNAs: 332
- Missed at least one sitting: 276 (83%)
- Absent for the entire session: 47 (14%)
- Highest Attendance: 222 MNAs (Sitting 6)
- Lowest Attendance: 135 MNAs (Sitting 3)
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