Held from January 12 to 22, the session saw 276 of 332 members miss at least one sitting, and 56 (17%) skip all. Prominent absentees included PM Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, and PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Cabinet performance was equally dismal: only Khalid Hussain Magsi attended fully, while seven ministers were no-shows across the board.

The Express Tribune criticized this as a ‘mockery of democracy,’ noting how elite leaders’ absence trickles down, undermining legislative credibility. Peak attendance hit 222 for a self-serving bill, revealing lawmakers’ selective engagement—present for perks, absent for oversight.

This isn’t isolated; previous sessions like September 2025’s 19th showed a quarter absent entirely. Analysts argue such behavior from the top damages democratic institutions, especially when Pakistan needs robust policy-making to tackle inflation, debt, and unrest. Calls are growing for accountability measures to enforce attendance and restore faith in the assembly.