Is parliament really powerful?
Democratic governments, by definition, are answerable and accountable to Parliament, which in turn is elected by the people. How can a government that is accountable or answerable to any other…
Parliament and conflict of interest
When Pakistanis complain that parliament serves the powerful rather than the people, they are not being cynical; they are pointing to a painful truth. The credibility of our democracy is…
Parliament’s climate role
HOW does this year’s budget measure against climate change? Can it be climate-proofed? What will be the direction of the journey and how can we proceed? Parliamentary oversight in nascent…
Women in parliament
We remember sitting with a young woman councilor in Sindh, who hesitated to speak in council meetings despite knowing her constituency’s issues inside out. “There’s an invisible line I can’t…
Women in parliament
We remember sitting with a young woman councilor in Sindh, who hesitated to speak in council meetings despite knowing her constituency’s issues inside out. “There’s an invisible line I can’t…
The unsupremacy of parliament
To divert attention from the malevolent person-specific nature of most clauses in the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill adopted helter-skelter without extensive public debate on October 20-21, 2024, the self-righteous refrain…
A hostage parliament
I HAVE always wanted to begin a piece with these clichéd lines and on Sunday night, I got the chance. ‘As these lines were being written’ is a phrase that…
Budget and parliament
IN Pakistan, this time of the year is a regular reminder of how farcical the role of parliament has become when it comes to ensuring that the annual budget reflects…
Parliament’s tumultuous year
EVEN by Pakistani standards, where there is never a dull moment in politics and parliament, 2022 was an extraordinarily tumultuous year. Our 15 National Assemblies have experienced a lot of…
Contempt of parliament
IN an unprecedented move, the National Assembly passed the Contempt of Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) Bill, 2023, on May 15. The bill will, however, need to be passed by the Senate and receive presidential…
