Using IPU Self-Assessment Toolkit for Parliaments
Evaluation of the Evaluation of the National Assembly of PakistanNational Assembly of Pakistan
By Faisal Karim KundiDeputy Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan
October 22, 2009
Evaluation of Parliament
2008-2009
REPORTREPORT
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IPU Self-Assessment Toolkit for ParliamentsIPU Self-Assessment Toolkit for Parliaments
Introduced in 2008 by the IPU Introduced in 2008 by the IPU Objectives: Objectives:
- Evaluate Parliament against an international criteria - Evaluate Parliament against an international criteria
- Identify priorities & means to strengthen Parliament- Identify priorities & means to strengthen Parliament
Based on 48 Questions grouped under 6 TopicsBased on 48 Questions grouped under 6 Topics
Each Question to be graded on a five-point scaleEach Question to be graded on a five-point scale
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Scenarios of Evaluation & Pakistan ScenarioScenarios of Evaluation & Pakistan Scenario
IPU Toolkit mentions 6 fictional scenarios of evaluationIPU Toolkit mentions 6 fictional scenarios of evaluation
Pakistan Evaluation follows one of the scenarios Pakistan Evaluation follows one of the scenarios
Scenario 6: Assessment of Parliament by an NGOScenario 6: Assessment of Parliament by an NGO
Evaluation undertaken by a prominent independent Evaluation undertaken by a prominent independent
Pakistani Think Tank: PILDAT: Pakistan Institute of Pakistani Think Tank: PILDAT: Pakistan Institute of
Legislative Development And Transparency (Legislative Development And Transparency (www.pildat.org) working closely with Parliamentarians) working closely with Parliamentarians
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PILDAT – An OverviewPILDAT – An Overview
An independent non-profit Research & Training An independent non-profit Research & Training
organization formed in 2001 organization formed in 2001
Stated Mission: To Strengthen Democracy & Stated Mission: To Strengthen Democracy &
Democratic InstitutionsDemocratic Institutions
Parliamentary Strengthening & Parliamentary Parliamentary Strengthening & Parliamentary
Performance Monitoring are 2 key Programmes of PILDATPerformance Monitoring are 2 key Programmes of PILDAT
www.pildat.org
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Participants in the Evaluation ProcessParticipants in the Evaluation Process
28 – member group assembled to evaluate 28 – member group assembled to evaluate
14 Parliamentarians from 5 political parties or groups14 Parliamentarians from 5 political parties or groups
2 veteran parliamentary reporters;
3 senior academics;
2 senior journalists;
2 lawyers;
1 former military commander
2 PILDAT staff
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PILDAT initiated the process by taking Assembly leadership into confidence & requesting me to be a part of the evaluation group
- Broad-based participation due to Multi-party Broad-based participation due to Multi-party legislatorslegislators
The ProcessThe Process
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 99
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 55 %55 %
Weakest Aspect: Near impossibility of a person of Weakest Aspect: Near impossibility of a person of
average means to get elected to the Parliament: average means to get elected to the Parliament: 28 %28 %
Strongest Aspect: Composition of the National Assembly Strongest Aspect: Composition of the National Assembly
is representative of Women: is representative of Women: 71 % 71 %
(76 or 22% women) (76 or 22% women)
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
1. Representativeness of the National Assembly
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 88
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 49 %49 %
Weakest Aspect: Inability to scrutinise executive Weakest Aspect: Inability to scrutinise executive
appointments: appointments: 35 %35 %
Strongest Aspect: Autonomy of National Assembly: Strongest Aspect: Autonomy of National Assembly: 64 %64 %
2. Parliamentary Oversight over Executive
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 77
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 53 %53 %
Weakest Aspect: Weak process to consult various Weakest Aspect: Weak process to consult various
interest groups over legislation: interest groups over legislation: 44 %44 %
Strongest Aspect: Satisfactory Parliamentary Strongest Aspect: Satisfactory Parliamentary
Procedures for Full and Open Debate on Legislation in Procedures for Full and Open Debate on Legislation in
the Assembly: the Assembly: 56 %56 %
3. Parliament’s Legislative Capacity
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 77
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 55 %55 %
Weakest Aspect: Very little Opportunity to citizens’ Weakest Aspect: Very little Opportunity to citizens’
direct involvement in legislation through citizens’ direct involvement in legislation through citizens’
initiatives: initiatives: 37 %37 %
Strongest Aspect: Ample freedom to journalists in Strongest Aspect: Ample freedom to journalists in
reporting on the Assembly & its members: reporting on the Assembly & its members: 55 %55 %
4. Transparency & Accessibility of Assembly
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 77
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 42 %42 % (Second Lowest) (Second Lowest)
Weakest Aspects: a) Transparency of procedures to Weakest Aspects: a) Transparency of procedures to
prevent conflict of interest; b) Oversight of funding to prevent conflict of interest; b) Oversight of funding to
candidates & parties: candidates & parties: 39 %39 % score each score each
Strongest Aspect: Observance of agreed Code of Strongest Aspect: Observance of agreed Code of
Conduct by members: Conduct by members: 49 %49 % Score Score
5. Accountability of the National Assembly
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
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Total Questions: Total Questions: 1010
Overall Score by the participants: Overall Score by the participants: 37 %37 % (Lowest) (Lowest)
Weakest Aspect: Weak or non-existent parliamentary Weakest Aspect: Weak or non-existent parliamentary
oversight of deployment of country’s armed forces oversight of deployment of country’s armed forces
abroad: abroad: 30 %30 % score score
Strongest Aspect: Effectiveness in inter-parliamentary Strongest Aspect: Effectiveness in inter-parliamentary
cooperation: cooperation: 48 %48 % Score Score
6. Parliament’s involvement in International Policy
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
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Overall Assessment: 48 %
Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results
55
49
53
55
42
37
48
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
The Representativeness of the National Assembly
Efffectiveness of Parliamentary Oversight over Executive
Legislative Capacity
The Transparency and Accessibility
The Accountability
Effectiveness of National Assembly's Involvement in Foreign Policy
Overall Percentage
Are
a o
f E
valu
atio
n
Percentage Score
Evaluation of the ParliamentEvaluation of the Parliament
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Total 11 RecommendationsTotal 11 Recommendations
Recommendations on Various Aspects:Recommendations on Various Aspects:
- Representativeness of the Assembly: - Representativeness of the Assembly: 11
- Parliamentary Oversight over Executive: - Parliamentary Oversight over Executive: 33
- Legislative Capacity: - Legislative Capacity: 33
- Accountability of National Assembly: - Accountability of National Assembly: 33
- Assembly’s Involvement in Foreign Policy: - Assembly’s Involvement in Foreign Policy: 11
Synopsis of RecommendationsSynopsis of Recommendations
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1.1. Election Spending Limits be strictly enforcedElection Spending Limits be strictly enforced
2.2. Make Parliament’s role effective in Budget ProcessMake Parliament’s role effective in Budget Process
3.3. Parliament should scrutinise key appointmentsParliament should scrutinise key appointments
4.4. Provide adequate and non-partisan research serviceProvide adequate and non-partisan research service
5.5. Institute system of public consultationInstitute system of public consultation
6.6. Attract young people to work in the ParliamentAttract young people to work in the Parliament
RecommendationsRecommendations
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7.7. Involve citizens in legislative processInvolve citizens in legislative process
8.8. Institute a system to check members’ conflict of interestInstitute a system to check members’ conflict of interest
9.9. Adequate oversight on funding to parties & candidatesAdequate oversight on funding to parties & candidates
10.10. Institute a system to monitor levels of public confidenceInstitute a system to monitor levels of public confidence
11.11. Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs be more Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs be more
pro-activepro-active
RecommendationsRecommendations (…Contd.) (…Contd.)
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Please see Please see www.pildat.org
A limited number of copies of the Evaluation Report are A limited number of copies of the Evaluation Report are
availableavailable
More Details….More Details….
Thank You !Thank You !
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