By: Rana Muhammad Tariq
Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has proposed to keep the current numerical strengthen of Senate intact and distribute eight seats of erstwhile FATA among the four provinces by equally increasing the number of general seats to twenty five instead of twenty three. He proposed that four seats, one for each province, be increased in the forthcoming election of the Senate scheduled to be held in March 2021 and four more seats, one for each province, be increased in the elections of the Senate to be held in March 2014 with a view to provide for continuity in terms of total number of seats of the Senate could be made.
In a letter addressed to Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Law & Justice, the Senate Chairman referred the matter to Senate Standing Committee on Law & Justice to examine, deliberate and submit a report with such recommendations including suggestions for a constitutional amendment.
In his letter, Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani highlighted that the term of office of four members out of the existing eight members from FATA shall expire on 11th March, 2021, whereas the term of office of the remaining four shall expire on 11th March, 2024. Resultantly, number of members of the Senate will be reduced to one hundred in March, 2021 after expiry of term of four members from erstwhile FATA and to ninety six after expiry of term of remaining four members from FATA in March, 2024.