October 14, 2002	Monday	Sha'aban 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: The results of general elections to the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, have paved the way for Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to dominate the Senate with its own chairman, who under the Constitution will be acting president in absence of the president.

Each province has a share of 22 seats in the 100-member Senate, including eight from Fata and four from the federal capital.

According to the unofficial results so far declared by the Election Commission, the MMA which is the third largest parliamentary party after the PML(Q) and People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), is now entitled to have a share of 19 per cent from 60 seats reserved for women.

It will have the same entitlement for 10 reserved seats for minorities, depending upon if they have submitted the list for the minority candidates as required under the law.

The MMA will have a share of at least 48 per cent from the NWFP provincial assembly in Senate, 27 per cent from Balochistan, 10 per cent from Sindh, and two per cent share from Punjab.

It will also have 50 per cent share from the federal capital where two MNAs will elect four senators.

The senators from Fata will be elected directly on Nov 12, as the military government has changed the electoral college for the Fata by accepting the allegations that MNAs from Fata (previous electoral college for Fata senators), used to vote after getting money. On more than one occasion known drug barons came to the parliament, which caused embarrassment to the government on international forums.

Interestingly, the PML(Q), which is single largest party in the National Assembly with a total of 76 seats, will not have simple majority of 171 seats in the house of 342 members.

The party would have a share of 45 per cent from 35 seats reserved for women in Punjab, seven per cent of 14 seats for women form Sindh, seven per cent of three seats from Balochistan, and 11 per cent from NWFP’ share of eight women seats.

Analysts are of the view that even if the party is given complete support of 22 independents, it would not be able to touch the 150 mark, short of 21 per cent.

The military government is being “advised” that election of the speaker should be delayed as the Supreme Court judgment, under which it was to hold election within three years, was totally silent about the transfer of power.

They argue that once the speaker of the National Assembly was installed, the connection of the armed forces and the president would be broken.

They also argue that there was no date fixed for holding first session of the National Assembly. There is also dispute on which is the first session — the session in which the members take oath, or in which the speaker is elected.

If Article 52 of the Constitution, is any guide, then the life of the NA starts from the day of election of the speaker.

The government advisers are of the view that speaker should be elected only after all legal doubts or objection about the continuance of Pervez Musharraf were removed.

With the exception of the one statement by the president that the prime minister would start working from Nov 1, there is no law, nor judgment which required him to do so, they say.