At a moment when Pakistan is grappling with economic recovery and political polarisation, the nation’s elected representatives appear disturbingly detached from their most basic responsibility of showing up. The latest attendance report by Fafen on the 23rd session of the National Assembly has revealed that out of 332 MNAs, a staggering 276 missed at least one sitting between January 12 and 22. Only 56 members – a mere 17% – attended all sittings.

Chronic absenteeism hollowing out this process makes a mockery of representative democracy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not attend a single sitting. Neither did PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. When those at the apex of power treat parliament as optional, it sends a clear message down the ranks that accountability can wait. The sitting with the highest turnout – 222 MNAs – was a private members’ day when bills of interest were passed. Lawmakers, it seems, are far more motivated when legislation touches their own interests than when routine governance or executive oversight is at stake. Fafen’s call to strengthen the committee system by operationalising Article 66 of the Constitution is therefore timely. In the absence of enabling legislation under Article 66(3), parliamentary committees remain largely symbolic, incapable of exercising real oversight. This weakness has not gone unnoticed as even the IMF has flagged concerns about limited transparency in Pakistan’s governance framework.

The public, meanwhile, watches from the sidelines. When citizens are asked to tighten their belts, they have every right to expect diligence from those they elect. Persistent absenteeism, especially by senior leaders and ministers, erodes the moral authority of the state to demand sacrifice from its people. What must change is not merely attendance, but attitude. Parliament must enforce stricter attendance rules, with penalties that go beyond token deductions. Proceedings and attendance records should be made more visible to the public to foster accountability.