ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has proposed to maintain the numerical strength of the Senate by distributing the eight seats of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) between the provinces. The total number of seats in the Senate is going to reduce to 96 from the existing 104 as eight FATA senators will retire after the tribal districts merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, Sanjrani has suggested equally increasing the number of general seats from each province from existing 23 to 25 – in a phased manner. Sanjrani has proposed that four seats, one for each province, be increased in the forthcoming Senate election scheduled for March, 2021, and four more seats be increased in the Senate polls to be held in March, 2024, with a view to provide for continuity in terms of total number of seats. Resultantly, number of members of the Senate will be reduced to one hundred in March, 2021 after expiry of the term of four FATA senators and to 96 after expiry of term of remaining four members from FATA in March, 2024.

Source: Pakistan Today January 22, 2020 19:18 UTC