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 !