Zardari summons first session of new Senate on March 12

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the first session for the 10th parliamentary year of the Senate on March 12.

Newly elected members will take oath during the session and the election for a new Chairman and Deputy Chairman will take place.

Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that Zardari, on the advice of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, had approved the nomination of Senator Afrasiab Khattak to preside over the first Senate session.

Senate elections

As reported earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared seven candidates ‘uncontested’ to the Senate of Pakistan on 54 seats.

Talking to The Express Tribune, officials said that the candidates were contesting on seats reserved for technocrats including ulema, women and non-Muslims from  Punjab and Sindh and will replace Senators, whose term will expire on March 11, 2012, under clause (3) of Article 59 of the Constitution.