Islamabad: As many as three of Pakistan's six federal and provincial legislatures do not disclose cabinet members' attendance during plenary proceedings. The National Assembly, Senate, and the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa publish complete plenary attendance records on their official websites, covering attendance of both the cabinet members and private members. In contrast, the Provincial Assemblies of Balochistan and Sindh do not disclose plenary attendance records at all. The Punjab Assembly publishes attendance records of private members; however, these records exclude those who also serve as part of the provincial cabinet.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, such practices obscure the level of legislative participation by ministers, who hold dual responsibilities of legislative and executive roles. Under Article 92 of the Constitution, the President appoints federal ministers from among the members of Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. Similarly, provincial ministers are appointed by the provincial governor from among the members of the respective provincial assembly on the chief minister's advice.

The lack of transparency raises concerns about accountability, as Article 91(6) and Article 130(6) of the Constitution stipulate that federal and provincial cabinets are collectively responsible to their respective assemblies. Ministers are expected to attend plenary sessions to answer questions, respond to notices, and participate in legislative discussions.

FAFEN has consistently advocated for greater parliamentary transparency, underscoring the importance of public access to plenary and committee attendance records. For voters, researchers, and civil society organizations, such information is vital for evaluating legislative performance and accountability.