Understanding the Senate and the senator

The National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan, which came into being under the 1973 Constitution, together make up the country’s parliament. The formation of the senate had two fundamental purposes.

The first was to provide the four provinces equal representation in the Federal Assembly. A move aimed towards establishing the provinces’ trust in the state, so that there is no distinction between big and small provinces, and all get to take part in the decision-making process.

The second objective of the senate or the Upper Legislative Chamber, was to form another House of Parliament, to review the work of the National Assembly. One of the senate’s purposes is also to rectify any mistakes in the National Assembly’s work, should they be overlooked. Thus, all laws require the senate’s approval before they can come into force.

Additionally, the senate also serves as a forum raising the voice of the populace. Elected representatives here can raise various public concerns which may go unaddressed in the National Assembly.

A senate seat is particularly significant in terms of national narrative, because it lasts for six years and does not require direct election. Instead, the national and provincial assemblies are their constituencies and each election only renews half of the senate.

Perks of the job

Senators, on the other hand, have access to all the perks and privileges granted to National Assembly members. Although the basic salary of an elected senator of the Upper House is marked at a sum of Rs150,000 a month, a lot of their daily expenses are compensated by the state.

For instance, a senator is paid Rs8,000 a month in office allowance, Rs10,000 per month in telephone allowance and Rs15,000 a month in ad hoc relief allowance. In addition to that, travel vouchers worth Rs300,000 are also provided annually, which can be cashed for Rs90,000 if not used.

The senate member, in addition to that, is also provided a Blue passport and offered 25 business-class open air tickets, which can be used by the senate member or his or her family. They also pocket an air-conditioned class and second-class fair allowance in the form of travel stipend. The fare for a business class seat is Rs150 per kilometre for air travel, while Rs10 per kilometre is given for road travel. Free telephone service is also available at the senators' residences. On top of that, members of the Senate are also paid Rs2,800 for General Daily Allowance, Rs4,800 for Special Daily Allowance, Rs2,000 for Convention Allowance and Rs2,000 for House Allowance. Other benefits include free medical care equivalent to a Grade 22 officer.

However, where there is great power there is also great responsibility. Highlighting the prevalent threat of illegal buying and selling of parliamentarians to sway senate polls, Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said that horse-trading can only be stopped through direct elections. “Turning the secret ballot into an open ballot won’t be of much help in this case. Instead direct elections should be adopted for the Upper House of Pakistan too, much like USA, Canada, Thailand and Indonesia where senators are brought by people’s vote and not through favoritism of party leaders and assembly members,” he explained, offering a solution to horse-trading.