The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan provides for a Federal Parliamentary System of government, with President as the Head of State and the popularly elected Prime Minister as Head of government. The Federal Legislature is a bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora), composed of the National Assembly and the Senate. The Constitution also provides for the President to address the two Houses assembled together at the commencement of the first session after General Elections.
The National Assembly is one of the two Houses of Parliament, with a total membership of 342 elected through universal adult suffrage. 60 seats are reserved for Women and 10 for Minorities.
| Punjab | Sind | NWFP | Balochistan | FATA | Federal Capital | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 148 | 61 | 35 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 272 |
| Women | 35 | 14 | 8 | 3 | - | - | 60 |
| Minorities | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| Total | 183 | 75 | 43 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 332 |
Minority Seats: Hindus (4), Christians (4), Buddhists, Sikhs, & Parsis (1), Ahmadiyya/Qadiani (1)
The most hectic session coincides with the passage of the Federal Budget in May/June, every year. The National Assembly enjoys exclusive powers to consider Money bills including the annual budget. The National Assembly also provides a minimum of three-fourth of the Cabinet strength and the member who enjoys the confidence of the majority in this august House is invited by the President to be the Prime Minister and form the Government. The Prime Minister is, therefore, a member of the National Assembly who enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the House. The cabinet is also collectively responsible to the Assembly alone.
The main purpose for the creation of the Senate of Pakistan was to give equal representation to all the federating units since the membership of the National Assembly was based on the population of each province. Equal provincial membership in the Senate, thus, balances the provincial inequality in the National Assembly and dispels doubts and apprehension, if any, regarding deprivation and exploitation.
The role of the Senate is to promote national cohesion and harmony and to alleviate fears of the smaller provinces regarding domination by any one province because of its majority, in the National Assembly. The Senate, is a body which represents the provinces and territories of the country and promotes a feeling of equality, peace and good understanding between them.
The Senate consists of 100 members, composed of the following:
22 from each province (Balochistan, NWFP, Punjab, and Sindh): 14 general, 4 technocrats, and 4 women,
4 from the federal capital: 2 generals, 1 technocrat, 1 woman,
8 from federally administered agencies.
Though seventeen seats have been allocated to women, there is no bar on women to seek elections on the other seats.
Senate elections take place in accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution, as amended through the Legal Framework Order, 2002. Each of the four provincial assemblies elect twenty two members from their respective provinces which include fourteen on general seats, four on seats reserved for technocrats and four on seats reserved for women. Four members i.e. two on general seats, one technocrat and one woman are elected from the Federal Capital whereas eight members are elected from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in such manner as the President may prescribe by order.
The Senate is a permanent legislative body which symbolizes a process of continuity in the national affairs. The term of its members is six years. However, one-half of its members retire after every three years. A casual vacancy in the Senate, caused by resignation, death, incapacitation, disqualification or removal of a member, is filled through election by the respective electoral college and the member so elected holds office for the un-expired term of the member whose vacancy he has filled.
A person seeking election to the Senate should be a graduate of not less than thirty years of age and should be registered as a voter in an area or province from where he seeks election and should meet other qualifications prescribed under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
After the Senate has been duly constituted, at its first meeting, it elects, from amongst its members, a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman. Whenever the office of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman becomes vacant the Senate elects another member as Chairman or as the case may be, the Deputy Chairman.
Term of office of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman is three years. In absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman acts as Chairman.
Please visit the web site of the National Assembly of Pakistan for more information.