Pakistan’s parliamentary attendance crisis has reached new lows, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif failing to attend even one meeting during the National Assembly’s 23rd session. A detailed FAFEN report exposes widespread absenteeism amid the country’s economic turmoil and political instability.
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.