1st pillar of government|Legislature (Parliament)|Pakistan|Sania Akhtar

 

#1st pillar of government

#Legislature (Parliament)

#Pakistan

#Sania Akhtar

Parliament (Majlis-e-Shura) or Pakistan Consultative Assembly is known as legislative body in the government of Pakistan. 

legislature means “to enact laws”. 

The legislature is of two types I.e., “Bicameral legislature” and “Unicameral legislature". In Pakistan there is a Bicameral legislature with a federal form of government. 

Development of legislative body after independence: 

According to the Independence Act of 1947 the role of parliament was performed by the “First Constituent Assembly" which was containing 69 members later on changed into 79 members. The first parliament session was held at Sindh Assembly building (Karachi). 

 The Constitution of 1956 provided parliament with one chamber. But after the separation of east Pakistan a new constitution (1973) had been implemented during Bhutto's rein in which there would be a bicameral legislature. 

Parliament House of Pakistan: 

The place where Parliamentarians meet to perform legislative function in a house known as parliament house. The building of parliament house contains two houses. Earlier Parliament house was located in Karachi. Later the new Parliament building was inaugurated on 28 May 1986. 

Upper house/Aiwan-e-Bala: 

Upper house of Pakistan is known as Senate. The Senate's powers and compositions are given in article 59 of the 1973 constitution. The members that are elected are known as Senators. They are elected for 6 years term. 

Development of Senate: 

After independence, the 2nd constituent assembly had been made 1956, the constitution
in which parliament consist of one house. Later 1973 constitution of Pakistan provided a parliament with two houses one of which is known as Senate. 

Initially, the senate contained 45 members. In 1977 the membership was raised to 63 and in 1985 the membership reached 87. Through the Legal Frame Order 2002, Gen-Pervez Musharraf raised the membership of the senate to 100. In 2011, Asif Ali Zardari’s government had been made the 18th constitution which raised the number of members of senate to 104. 

Each province provided 23 members of Senate. 8 members are elected from FATA. Each of the four provinces provided one minority member. 

When FATA merged in KPK by the 25th amendment, its seats were removed from Senate. Now the senate contains 96 members. 

Leadership of Upper House:  

Chairman Senate (president chair of the senate and perform the duty of presidency during the absence of the President). 

Deputy Chairman Senate (Assistance of chainman and perform tasks of the Chairman in his/her absence). 

Leader of the house (A member elected by the governing party and referred to as Prime Minister). 

Leader of the Opposition (A person elected as the representator of the opposition in the senate). 

Lower House/Aiwan-e-Zairin: 

Lower house of Pakistan is known as National Assembly. The members of the National Assembly are known as MNA’s (Member of National Assembly). 

Membership of Lower of House: 

According to article 51, there are 342 seats in the National Assembly. While 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 seats are for minorities. 

Members are elected for 5 years.in Pakistan where the multi-party system exited the party needs 172 seats to gain majority in order to make a government. 

Members are elected as the base of population by Adult Franchise for the tenure of 5 years. 

Leadership of Lower House: 

Speaker of National Assembly (Presidency of National Assembly). 

Deputy Speaker (Assistance of Speaker and presidency over the assembly task during the absence of speaker). 

Leader of the House (The constitutional head of the government named as Prime Minister). 

Leader of the Opposition:(The elected representative of the opposition in the National Assembly). 

Is The Lower House more Powerful than The Upper House? 

The lower house of Pakistan is more powerful than the upper house because the lower house is directly elected by the public. The executive (cabinet) also elected by the Lower House and also, they are accountable to the lower house. 

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#Sania Akhtar