Senate panel clears bill to raise Balochistan Assembly seats to 80

ISLAMABAD: The subcommittee of the Senate’s Committee on Law and Justice has approved a constitutional amendment bill to increase the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly from the current 65 to 80.

The Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2024 (Amendment of Article 106), was introduced by Senators Manzoor Ahmed and Danesh Kumar during the Senate session on January 1, 2024. After the subcommittee’s approval, the bill will now be referred to the Senate Committee on Law and Justice for final endorsement.

The subcommittee’s meeting, chaired by its convener, Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, was held at Parliament House on Monday. Senators Hamid Khan, Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Danesh Kumar, and officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice, including the additional secretary, attended the session.

In their deliberations, Senator Hamid Khan and Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro supported the bill, citing the practical challenges faced by Balochistan and emphasising the need for increased representation. The subcommittee agreed to forward the bill, along with the perspectives of all members, to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

During the discussion, Senator Danesh Kumar, one of the bill’s movers, highlighted that the issue had been under debate for the past five years. He argued that increasing the number of seats would enhance governance and ensure fair representation for Balochistan’s population.

Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro endorsed Senator Kumar’s appeal, saying that Balochistan’s vast geographical area necessitates increased representation to serve the people effectively. He supported the proposal to raise the number of seats in the Provincial Assembly from 65 to 80.

Senator Hamid Khan concurred, suggesting that the increased representation should also extend to the National Assembly to reflect Balochistan’s needs adequately. However, Senator Anusha Rahman offered a nuanced perspective. While not opposing the proposal in principle, she stressed the importance of analysing its implications within Pakistan’s constitutional framework, which is vote-based. She said that altering the representation dynamics could affect the voting system and suggested consulting the election commission and the Balochistan Assembly before making final recommendations.

Senator Ghumro reassured the committee that the proposed changes would not infringe upon the rights of other provinces. He cited examples from other countries where similar adjustments were successfully implemented.

In conclusion, the subcommittee approved the bill, recognising the practical challenges faced by Balochistan and the need for increased representation. The matter will now be submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further consideration.