The stealth cost of legislature

Lawmaking must be at the core of governance — defining powers, keeping checks in check, and ensuring public trust. Nonetheless, in Pakistan, lawmakers often swap their legislative hats for power-broker crowns. Instead of crafting laws, they’re busy chasing development funds and jockeying for influence. Elected to legislate and uphold the law, many Pakistani lawmakers seem more interested in the perks and privileges that come with the title. Perks, influence, plush accommodations, and a lifestyle far removed from the average citizen’s reality have turned these lawmakers into power-hungry players in a high-stakes game. Their focus? Securing ministerial posts and channelling funds to their constituencies — moves that boost their clout but leave their duties in the dust. Others get busy cosying up to the power axis, as Francis Underwood from House of Cards would put it, deluding themselves into thinking they actually wield it.