ISLAMABAD: Around 82 members of the National Assembly (25 per cent) did not attend any sitting while only 111 (34pc) attended all sittings during the National Assembly’s 19th session, which spanned three sittings from Sept 1 to 5, 2025.

According to a report compiled by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen), second sitting had the highest number of MNAs (200 or 61pc of the current membership) present during the session.

The third sitting had the lowest number of MNAs in attendance (159 or 49pc). As many as 216 (66pc ) MNAs skipped at least one sitting during the session.

As Many as 50 (23pc of 216) MNAs submitted applications for leave of absence during the session. As many as 166 (77 pc of 216) MNAs skipped the House proceedings without any formal leave application in advance.

Among the cabinet members, four federal ministers and one state minister attended all the sittings. The PM did not attend any sitting, while the office of the Leader of the Opposition remained vacant during the session.

Attendance patterns by sitting

As in previous sessions, female members generally had higher attendance than their male counterparts. The second sitting saw the highest attendance, with 200 members (61pc of the current membership) present.

This session was a Private Members’ Day, during which the minister for housing and works moved motion 288 to suspend the agenda to discuss the country’s flood situation under motion 259, which had been previously introduced by the minister for parliamentary affairs in the first sitting. The lowest attendance occurred during the third (last) sitting, with only 159 members (49pc ) present. An analysis of attendance records and leave applications announced during the proceedings shows that 216 members (66pc of the current strength) missed at least one sitting during the session. However, only 50 members (23pc of those absent) submitted applications seeking leave from the House for their absence.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2025