Role of Senate in Pakistan’s politics (1973-1977) with analysis of Chief Executive, Bureaucracy and Army’s interferenceSidra Jabeen Khan

Abstract Role of first Senate Analyze Senate’s actual

formation objective What did it deliver in return Contribution in politics Analyze senate’s working in

3 different dimensions:o Chief executiveo Armyo Military Their interference results

on institution

Introduction Came into being on

1973 British Parliamentary

system Bicameral legislature No of members: 45

(raised to 63 in 1977)

Reason for formation Senators

Parliament

Upper House Senate

Lower House

National Assembly

Hypothesis

First senate of Pakistan couldn’t provide best role in politics due to too many external and internal factors i.e. pressure of that time chief executive, will of bureaucracy and side profile of military at its head.

Review of Literature Hussain Haqqani’s book of 2005, “Pakistan:

between mosque and Military’s” chapter old and new Pakistan

The research by Mahboob Hussain in 2015 on “Power dynamics of state institutions in Pakistan, discourse analysis of bureaucracy and the legislature 1971-1977”

Another research paper of Mahboob Hussain on Parliament in Pakistan 1971-1977 and chief executive: an analysis of Institutional autonomy

Review of Literature

Elliot L. Tepper’s research of 1974 “The New Pakistan: Problems and Prospects”

Another research work of Mahboob Hussain “Institutional relationship in Pak: A study of the Army and the Parliament 1971-1977”

Research Gap

Upper House of Parliament Meant for checks and balance Embankment for the protection of

smaller provinces Term of office (4 years)

Federal Legislative List

Part I

Federal Subjects

Part II

Provinces special interest (railways, minerals, oil and

natural gas, council of common

interests)

Upper House of Parliament Bills origination Inaugural session:

6 Aug 1973 Khan Habibullah

Khan: Chairman Mirza Tahir M

Khan: Deputy Chairman

KHAN HABIBULLAH KHAN

Upper House of Parliament Members of Senate 1975: Formation of Senateo Rao Abdus Sattar was leader of the

house and Mr. Muhammad Hashim Ghilzai was leader of the opposition.

1977: Formation of Senateo members were raised from 45 to 63

Working of Senate Decisions of Chair: 229o 5 – absentee memberso 132 – adjournment motionso 7 – amendment in billso 15 – related to billso 4 – decorumo 6 – motionso 28 – point of orderso 1 – presso 22 – privilege motionso 7– questionso 1 – relevancyo 1 – resolutionso 1 – unparliamentary expression

Working of Senate

Rule of passing Sessions: 507 days Actual sitting: 305 days Meetings: 570 hours (74% of time

was devoted to legislative business) 243 bills: considered and passed

243 Bills

115: referred to standing

committee

107: recommended

for passage without

amendments

8: amendments suggested

243 Bills

Working of Senate

Standing Committee: 94 meetings Finance Committee: constitute under

article 88 of the constitution Expenditure: controlled by senate

itself 50 ordinances laid: 1 lapsed, 49

Passes as bill

Govt Party

337

Qazi Faizul Haq (66

questions)

Opposition Party

836

Khawaja Muhammad Safdar (525 questions)

Total Questions asked

Working of Senate

Debates: 305 have been printed

Interference of Chief Executive Interference in parliament Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo arrest,

18th April 1974 Bangladesh recognition Firing in Quetta, 6th August

1974 Misbehaving with LCW staff,

13th Nov, 1975 Large entourage of PM in

foreign tour, 17 March 1976 Land reforms bill, 1974 Mighty hold of Chief

executive

Interference of Bureaucracy Strong institution Authoritarianism Statement of Federal Minister, 27 Feb, 1976 Mature Bureaucracy

Interference of Army Temporarily successful in

asserting primacy of Civilian Government

Powerful institution Grave Situation in

Balochistan, 14th Dec, 1973 Unwarranted attack in

Village Sheerani, 6th August, 1974

Interference of Army

Refusal to opposition leaders to visit Chamalang, 6th August, 1974

Alleged bombing of Air force, June, 1974

Defence was subject out of the order of Parliament

Couldn’t assert power in contrast of Army

Conclusion

Started well in decisions & policies Affected by other powerful

institutions Especially by chief executive Members were favoured Govt party dominated Weak institution, powerful chief

executive Irony of Pak’s History

Bibliography British Ambassador, I. (1973, August 16). Diplomatic Report No. 392/73. FCO 37/1334.

London: The National Archives (TNA). Constitution of Islamic Republic Pakistan, 1973 Dawn, 7 August 1973 Decisions of Chair (1973-1977) Islamabad, 1981 Elliot L. Tepper. (1974). the New Pakistan: Problems and Prospects. Pacific Affairs, 47(1), 56–

68. Http://doi.org/10.2307/2755895 First Senate of Pakistan Islamabad, 1980 Haqqani, Hussain Old and New Pakistan. (2005). Old and New Pakistan. In Pakistan:

Between Mosque and Military (pp. 87–130). Hasan Askari Rizvi, the Military: Role Enhancement and the Political, Hussain, M. (2013). Parliament in Pakistan 1971-77 and Chief Executive: An Analysis of

Institutional Autonomy. Journal of Political Studies, 20(1), 83. Hussain, M. Institutional Relationship in Pakistan: A Study of the Army and the Parliament. Khan, Hamid Constitutional and political history of Pakistan (Karachi: Oxford University

Press, 2009) Kokab, M. H. (2013). Institutional Influence in Pakistan, Bureaucracy, Cabinet and

Parliament, Asian Social Science, 173-178 M Hussain

Power Dynamics of State Institutions in Pakistan, Discourse Analysis of Bureaucracy and the Legislature (1971-1977) - South Asian Studies, 2015

Senate Debates, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

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