One-Fourth of MNAs Skip All Sittings During National Assembly’s 19th Session

A new report on the National Assembly’s 19th session has revealed that around 25% of the Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) did not attend any of the sittings held from September 1 to September 5, 2025.

According to official records, the session included three sittings, but 82 MNAs remained absent throughout. On the other hand, 111 members (34%) attended all sittings, showing a mix of participation and neglect.

The second sitting recorded the highest attendance, with 200 MNAs (61%) present. The third sitting had the lowest attendance, with only 159 MNAs (49%) participating.

A total of 216 members (66%) missed at least one sitting during the session. However, only 50 of them submitted leave applications, while 166 MNAs skipped proceedings without any formal notice.

Prime Minister Among Absentees

The report confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not attend any sitting. The Leader of the Opposition’s position also remained vacant during this session. Among the cabinet members, only a few ministers showed consistent attendance.

Four federal ministers and one state minister were present in all sittings. In contrast, 10 federal ministers and five ministers of state did not attend a single sitting. The high level of absenteeism, especially during discussions on Pakistan’s flood situation, raised serious concerns about ministerial responsibility.

Female MNAs Show Better Attendance

Female MNAs once again outperformed their male counterparts in attendance.
Out of the total female members, 35 (49%) attended all sittings, while 12 (17%) missed every sitting.

Among male MNAs on general seats, 70 (28%) did not attend any sitting, while 73 (30%) attended all three sittings. The data shows a decline in overall attendance for both men and women compared to previous sessions.

Regional Attendance Breakdown

Attendance varied across provinces.

• From Islamabad, all MNAs attended more than half of the sittings.
• In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 75% of MNAs attended more than half, with 30 present at every sitting.
• Punjab saw 98 MNAs (58%) attend more than half, including 56 who attended all.
• In Sindh, 41 MNAs (51%) attended more than half the sittings, with 14 attending all.
• From Balochistan, 11 MNAs (55%) attended more than half, and nine attended all sittings.

Party-Wise Attendance

Lawmakers from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), PML-N, and JUI-P showed higher participation, with most attending more than one sitting.
Members from MWMP and the National Party (NP) maintained full attendance. However, the only PKMAP representative was absent from all sittings, while the PML-Z representative attended just one.

Ministerial Absenteeism Raises Questions

Out of nine ministers scheduled to answer questions, only one attended. The rest skipped the session despite the flood crisis being a major discussion point.

Observers have noted that such absence during national emergencies reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to governance.
Still, a few ministers — including those from Housing and Works, Defence, and Social Safety — earned praise for attending every session.