Islamabad
The Pakistan Senate faced a crisis as over half of its members retired, leaving the upper house of parliament in a precarious position for three weeks, sources disclosed. Traditionally, Senate members rotate every three years due to the conclusion of a six-year term, prompting prompt elections to fill vacancies. However, an unprecedented delay in general elections has created this predicament.
The Election Commission of Pakistan’s failure to organize timely elections has thrown the Senate into disarray. The ECP declared that polling to fill 48 vacancies will occur on April 2, with the election schedule forthcoming.
Notably, four seats formerly reserved for tribal areas have been abolished following their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the 25th Amendment.
The forthcoming elections will feature contests for seven general seats, two women’s seats, two technocrat/ulema seats per province, and two seats designated for non-Muslims.
Furthermore, two senators will be elected from the Islamabad Capital Territory, one each in the general and technocrat/ulema categories.
The retirements include notable figures like Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Senate Deputy Chairman Mirza Mohammad Afridi, Leader of the House Ishaq Dar, and Leader of the Opposition Shahzad Wasim. The Senate’s dynamics hang in the balance as it navigates through this unprecedented situation.
