LAHORE, Jan 11: Over two dozen questions about three different departments - finance, special education and information technology - were on the agenda of the Punjab Assembly on Monday.
Only a few questions about the finance department had been asked - and the minister was finding it rather difficult to answer supplementaries about a major fraud - that an opposition member proposed that now the house should take up the other two departments on the order of the day.
The finance minister, heaving a sigh of relief, dropped in his seat, and the house briefly took up questions about the other two departments. The minister for information technology was on his legs for less than a minute.
The minister for special education answered a few questions and by then the question-hour came to an end. On average, less than three minutes were available for a question. And since our legislators are yet to learn to take up all questions in the given time, most of the questions are not asked because of shortage of time.
It has been observed that only a few questions are addressed when the question-hour comes to an end. And as a matter of practice, the remaining questions along with their answers are placed on the table of the house. Consequently, a number of supplementary questions which should have been asked, can't be asked.
The question-hour provides the legislators with an opportunity to examine the working of various departments. The ability or lack of it of the relevant minister is exposed when he or she answers questions.
Records show that at times answers to various questions come to the house two years after being asked. And although the departments are supposed to come up with the latest situation on the subject, the information provided by them is old and obsolete.
For example, during the previous session, the relevant parliamentary secretary gave details about the TEVTA chairman who had left the orgnaization long ago. And she knew nothing about his successor.
The parliamentary secretary argued that the mover should give a fresh question if he wanted to know something about the new TEVTA chief. In other words, what she said meant that the legislator should wait for another couple of years to have his question answered.
It has also been observed that some ministers stay away from the house when they are required to answer questions about their department. This way, the burden is shifted to parliamentary secretaries - most of whom are not well prepared.
Administrative secretaries of the departments, who are supposed to be present in the gallery to help their ministers or the parliamentary secretaries answer the questions to the satisfaction of the elected representatives, at times, are of little help.
Many a time it has been seen that legislators want to discuss a subject in detail by asking more supplementary questions but they can't do so because the chair generally won't entertain more than three supplemenatries. This way justice is not done to the subject, no matter how important it is.
The accountability of ministers through the question-hour can be improved by making some changes to the Rules of Procedure and making them compatible with the local requirements.
If an hour is not sufficient to deal with all questions about a department, the time may be extended to two, three, four hours, or as many hours as are necessary. There is no harm allocating even a full day to a department. The members should have full freedom to ask as many questions as they want.
Ministers getting fabulous salaries and perks should justify the expenditure being made on them by giving satisfactory answers to all questions by all lawmakers.
All relevant officials of a department should be under an obligation to be present when their minister is supposed to answer questions. And no member should be told that his/her question needs fresh notice.
Similarly, no question should be disposed of on the basis of technicalities. Even if the relevant member is not present in the house to put up the question, it should be assumed to have been asked.
Seat just behind that of the leader of the house should be earmarked for the minister who is supposed to answer questions on a particular day. Seated there, he will be able to get assistance from his staff in the gallery. Parliamentary secretary should also be allowed to sit beside the minister for necessary help.
The chief minister should personally answer questions about his departments. Such a practice will not only make the proceedings livelier, but also convey an impression that like other ministers he is also answerable to the house.
Procedures for adjournment and privilege motions should also be reviewed to improve the working of all departments. It has been made a practice that only those matters are made subjects of adjournment motions as are selected by various MPs. An issue, no matter how important, is left out if it is not picked up by a lawmaker.
There's a need to expand the scope of the adjournment motions in the interest of the people. While the governments are always scared of accountability and they prefer to brush the issues under the carpet, there's a need to take the problems head on. Lapses, if any, should be admitted frankly and rectified.
Matters of public interest raised by various newspapers should also be taken up by the house. Opposition members should devise a mechanism and ensure that no important issue goes un-noticed.
Likewise, the scope of privilege motions should also be expanded. Injustice done to the people should also be made a subject of privilege motions. At present, what most of the legislators term the breach of their privilege is experienced by the common man everyday.
And, ironically, he has no remedy. Legislators would be doing a great national service by evolving some mechanism to see what happens with their constituents. The legislators should also bear in mind that mere enactment of laws is not sufficient.
Practical steps to solve people's problems is the real issue. Had legislation been the only yardstick, Punjab Assembly has done a wonderful job during the past two years. But if its ability to improve the working of various departments and solve people's problems be made the touchstone, the situation is quite depressing. Is anybody listening?
