ISLAMABAD: A Sena­­te committee on Monday discussed the bill to increase Senate seats for Balochistan and called the move necessary due to the province’s vast size.

The Senate Sub-Com­mittee on Law and Justice, chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, convened at the Parliament House to review the Cons­titutional Amendment Bill, 2024.

The bill has been introduced by senators Man­zoor Ahmed and Danesh Kumar of Balochistan Awami Party to “enhance governance and ensure equitable representation for the province”.

The meeting on Monday was attended by senators Hamid Khan, Anusha Rahman, Mr Kumar and Ministry of Law and Justice officials.

Senator Kumar highlighted the urgency of more Senate seats from Balochistan, stating that the issue has been under discussion for five years.

He stressed that increa­sing the province’s seats in the upper house of parliament from 65 to 80 would address Baloch­is­t­an’s multifacted challenges.

Senator Ghumro endor­sed the proposal, emphasising the need for a “more inclusive representational model” for Balochistan.

Senator Khan also supported the bill, noting that the province’s vast territory necessitated increa­sed representation, not only in the Senate but also in the National Assembly.

Senator Rahman ack­n­owled-ged the importance of the propo-sal but cautioned against rushing the process.

She emphasised that the constitutional framework is vote-based, and any adjustments to representation dynamics should be thoroughly examined in consultation with the Election Commission and Balochistan Assembly.

In concluding remarks, Senator Ghumro assured that the proposed increase in Balochistan’s representation in Senate would not infringe upon the rights of other provinces.

He also underscored the need to address Balochistan’s practical challenges through the increased representation. The committee decided to forward the bill, along with members’ suggestions, to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further deliberation.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024