November 12, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The legislative performance of the present parliament in the first year of its tenure compares dismally with that of the last five parliaments elected since 1985, statistics collected from the legislation branch of the Parliament House revealed on Tuesday.

Parliament has passed only two bills, including the finance bill, in the year, which started on Nov 16, 2002.

Though the last session of the National Assembly continued for a record 84 days, it could not do any legislative work.

During the Junejo government, parliament approved 23 laws in its first year from March 20, 1985, to March 20, 1986. During prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s first government, parliament approved 13 laws in its first year. The first Nawaz Sharif government got 24 laws approved from parliament in its first year. In the second tenure of Ms Bhutto, parliament in its first year approved 33 laws.

The second government of Mr Sharif set a record when parliament approved 47 laws during its first year.

Parliament approved an average of 28 laws per year during the second term of Mr Sharif. From Feb 15, 1997, to Oct 12, 1999, 74 laws were passed by both the houses in 32 months.

During his first tenure, parliament passed 64 laws in 32 months with an average of 24 laws per year.

Parliament under prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo did legislation at an average of 15 laws per year. During March 20, 1985, to May 29, 1988, parliament approved 48 laws.

During the first Benazir government, parliament approved 27 laws from Nov 20, 1988, to Aug 6, 1990, at an average of 16 laws per year. During the second stint of Ms Bhutto in power, parliament passed 55 laws at an average of 18 laws per year from Oct 15, 1993, to Nov ember 5, 1996.

The present parliament also set a record by passing the budget in five days. Earlier, finance bills were passed after lengthy debates lasting for about a month.

During the last session of the year, in order to complete the mandatory 130 days of sittings, the government utilized the relaxation given in the Constitution according to which if the National Assembly meets after a gap of two days in a week, it is counted as a sitting for a full week.