In a major development, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani has proposed to "keep the current numerical strength of the Senate intact and distribute eight seats of erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) among the four provinces by equally increasing the number of general seats to 25 instead of 23."

He has referred the matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice to "examine the matter, deliberate on it and submit a report with such recommendations including suggestion for a constitutional amendment."

On the sidelines of Senate session on Tuesday, the chairman Senate wrote a letter bearing number F.No.1(1)/Chr/2020, to Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Muhammad Javed Abbasi.

"Consequent upon the Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2018, amongst others Article 59 of the Constitution was also amended whereby paragraph (b) of clause (1) of Article 59 which dealt with the election of eight members from erstwhile FATA was omitted. As a consequence thereof, it was provided in clause (1) of Article 59 that the Senate shall consist of 96 members. A new clause (3A) was also inserted in the Article ibid which provides that the existing members of the Senate from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas shall continue till expiry of their respective terms of office," the letter reads.

It says the term of office of four members out of the existing eight members from FATA shall expire on March 11, 2021, whereas the term of office of the remaining four shall expire on March 11, 2024. Resultantly, the letter reads, the number of members of the Senate will be reduced to 100 in March, 2021 after expiry of term of four members from erstwhile FATA, and to 96 after expiry of term of remaining four members from FATA in March, 2024.

"I am of the view that the current strength of the Senate may continue, as it may give adequate representation to the federating units and eight seats of the Senate from erstwhile FATA may be distributed amongst the four provinces equally increasing the number of general seats, to be elected by the members of each Provincial Assembly. It is further proposed that four seats, one for each province, be increased in the forthcoming elections of the Senate scheduled to be held in March, 2021 and four more seats, one for each province, be increased in the elections of the Senate to be held in March, 2024 so that continuity in terms of total number of seats of the Senate can be made," the chairman Senate writes in the letter.

"The above matter is, therefore, referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice in terms of sub-rule (1) of Rule 166 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 to examine the matter, deliberate on it and submit a report with such recommendations including suggestion for a constitutional amendment."

Meanwhile, earlier at the Senate session, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that the Swat Airport, which was closed down some years back due to militancy and terrorism in the area, is in the process of restoration and would be made functional in the ongoing year. He said the flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on the routes; Gwadar-Turbat, Karachi-Gwadar-Turbat, Quetta-Gwadar-Turbat, Karachi-Quetta-Gwadar-Turbat and Quetta-Dalbandin are under consideration. He was responding to related questions posed by Senators Siraj-ul-Haq, Usman Kakar and Jahanzeb Jamaldini.

The Senate would meet again on Friday at 10:30am.