As many as 54 new members of Senate took oath of their offices Monday, as 50 outgoing members retired.
Earlier, the opposition parties held their meetings prior to Senate session and decided not to field their candidates for the position of Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman; hence, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Nayyar Bukhari was elected unopposed as Senate Chairman and Sabir Baloch as Deputy Chairman.
It should be mentioned here it is the first time in the parliamentary history of the country that a minority member has been given representation in the house from each province, pushing the total strength of the House from 100 to 104.
Newly elected 54 Senators took oath with Presiding Officer Senator Afrasiab Khatak chair the session.
It is pertinent to note here that after the oath-taking, the ruling party Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has become the major force in the Senate with 41 members and with support from the partners, the ruling coalition will have strength of 70 members.
