Term limits: ECP holds draw to determine minority senators’ tenure

Members of Senate from Punjab, Sindh to complete six-year term

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday held a draw in the Senate hall to determine the terms of four minority senators.

The draw divided the four senators belonging to minority communities into two groups – those who will be retiring midway through their tenure in March next year and the ones who will complete a full six-year term.

Of the four senators from the minority community, Senator Heman Dass from Balochistan and Senator Amar Jeet from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will be retiring in March 2015 and will be replaced by two new minority members from the provincial quota.

Two other minority senators, Kamran Michael from Punjab and Hari Ram from Sindh will remain members of the Senate for a full six year.

These senators were elected to the upper house in 2012. Reserved seats for minorities were added to the Senate as per the 18th constitutional amendment passed in April 2010. As the Senate is a permanent legislature, half of its members have to retire every three years and are replaced by new members.

In 2012, 54 new members entered the upper house, with 50 replacing those who retired after completing their term and four new ones from minority communities.

Balochistan and K-P minority community members will now be retiring halfway through their term along with 50 members who were elected in 2009 and would be completing their six- year term.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2014.