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Senate Standing Committee Approves Bill to Increase Seats in Balochistan
Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice approves bill to increase Balochistan seats, with further talks on women’s and minority seat allocations to follow.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-08
Senate Standing Committee Approves Bill to Increase Seats in Balochistan

The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved a crucial constitutional amendment bill aimed at increasing the number of seats in Balochistan. The bill, which seeks to address the underrepresentation of the province, was discussed and approved during a meeting chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naik.

The sub-committee formed to review the constitutional amendment bill presented its report during the meeting. Senator Zameer Hussain proposed an increase in the seats from 65 to 80, citing the need for better representation of Balochistan in the Senate. Senator Kamran Murtaza also suggested that if the seats in Balochistan are increased, similar increases should be made in the National Assembly to ensure proportional representation.

Chairman Senator Farooq H. Naik acknowledged the proposal but pointed out that the bill lacked specific details regarding the allocation of seats for women and minorities. "The report does not specify how many seats will be allocated for women and minorities, so we will forward this bill to the Ministry of Law for further review," he said.

Senator Zameer Hussain Ghumro clarified that if general seats were increased, the reserved seats for women and minorities would automatically be adjusted. However, the committee expressed concerns that the current version of the bill did not adequately address the increase in minority representation. "The minority seats will increase, but the bill as presented is lacking in this regard. We will need to approve the table made in the bill for proper adjustment," said Senator Naik.

In addition to discussing the allocation of seats, Senator Kamran Murtaza raised a point regarding Article 63A of the Constitution, which places restrictions on members who defect from their party. Murtaza noted that the current bill did not address the four places in 63A where such a ban applies, suggesting that further examination was needed.

The committee decided to send the bill, along with the raised concerns, to the Ministry of Law for further input. Once the Ministry has reviewed the bill and provided their recommendations, the report will be brought to the Senate for final approval.

The approval of this bill is seen as an important step in enhancing political representation for Balochistan and ensuring that the province receives more equitable representation in Pakistan’s legislature. It also highlights ongoing efforts to improve the political balance across the country, particularly in provinces with historically low representation.

As the bill moves through the next stages of review and discussion, it will likely continue to spark debate over the specific allocation of seats, particularly for women, minorities, and the impact on the national political landscape.
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