View source for Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan

{{Short description|Presiding officer of the Senate of Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chairman
| body = <br />the Senate of Pakistan
| native_name = {{nq|صدر ایوانِ بالا}}
| flag = 
| flagsize = 
| flagcaption = 
| insignia = Emblem of Senate of Pakistan.png
| insigniasize = 150px
| insigniacaption = 
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Yusuf Raza Gilani]]
| incumbentsince = 9 April 2024
| type = 
| status = [[President of the Senate|Presiding officer]]
| department = [[Senate of Pakistan]]
| style = [[Chairman|Mr. Chairman]]<br /><small> (Informal; while presiding the house)</small><br />[[Honourable|Honourable Chairman]]<br /><small>(Formal)</small><br>[[Mr. President (title)|Mr. President]]<br>{{small|(While acting as the President)}}
| member_of = 
| reports_to = 
| residence = 
| seat = [[Parliament House, Islamabad|Parliament House]], <br> [[Islamabad]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = The [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]]
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = 3 years, at the Senate’s pleasure.
| termlength_qualified = 
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Pakistan]]
| precursor = 
| formation = 12 April 1973; 49 years ago
| first = [[Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat|Habibullah K. Marwat]]<br>12 April 1973
| last = 
| abolished = 
| succession = [[Line of succession to the President of Pakistan|First]]
| abbreviation = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = 
| salary = 
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20150426192319/http://www.senate.gov.pk/en/chairmain.php Chairman Senate]
| image = Yousaf Raza Gilani 2010 (cropped).jpg
}}
{{Politics of Pakistan}}

The '''chairman of the Senate of Pakistan''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|صدر ایوانِ بالا}}}}) is the [[President of the Senate|president-chair]] of the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] of [[Pakistan]].<ref name="Article 601">[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 60(1)] of the Chapter 2: Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]].</ref> According to the [[Constitution of Pakistan]], the chairman is a [[President of the Senate|presiding official]] and the [[Pakistan Senate|Senate]] must choose a chairman and deputy chairman for a time interval of three years.<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 60(2), 63(6–7)] of the Chapter 2: Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]].</ref>

During the [[President of Pakistan|president]]'s absence, the chairman of the Senate is empowered with the duties of the presidency; in rare events involving the absence of the chairman, the presidential duties are usually held by the [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan|speaker of the National Assembly]].<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch1.html Article 49(1)] of the Chapter 1: The President in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]].</ref> The chairman of the Senate is the first in the [[Line of succession to the President of Pakistan|line of succession]] to the president of Pakistan, ahead of the speaker of the National Assembly.<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch1.html Article 49(2)] of the Chapter 1: The President in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]].</ref>

The first chairman of the Senate was [[Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat|Habibullah Marwat]], while [[Wasim Sajjad]] remains the longest-serving chairman. Senator [[Yusuf Raza Gilani]] elected to Senate in the April 2 election, is the current chairman of the Senate, having assumed office on 9 April 2024.

==Role and responsibilities==
The office of Chairman of the Senate is created by Article 60(1) of the Chapter 2 in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]]:<ref name="Article 601"/>

{{quote|text=After the Senate has been duly constituted, it shall, at its first meeting and to the exclusion of any other business, elect from amongst its members a chairman and a Deputy chairman and, so often as the office of chairman or Deputy chairman becomes vacant, the Senate shall elect another member as chairman or, as the case may be, Deputy chairman<br><br>The term of office of the chairman or Deputy chairman shall be 3 years from the day on which he enters upon his office.|sign=Article 60(1)–60(2) of the Chapter 2 in Part III of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]]|source=source<ref name="Article 601"/>}}

The main purpose for the creation of the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] was to give equal representation to all the federating units since the membership of the [[National Assembly (Pakistan)|National Assembly]] was based on the population of each [[Administrative units of Pakistan|four province]].<ref name="Senate press release">{{cite web|last1=Senate|title=Brief History|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/en/content.php?id=3|website=www.senate.gov.pk/|publisher=Senate press release|access-date=29 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613092025/http://www.senate.gov.pk/en/content.php?id=3|archive-date=13 June 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Equal provincial membership in the Senate, thus, balances the provincial inequality in the National Assembly and dispels doubts and apprehension, if any, regarding deprivation and exploitation.<ref name="Senate press release"/>

The role of the Senate is to promote national cohesion and harmony and to alleviate fears of the smaller provinces regarding domination by any one province because of its majority, in the National Assembly.<ref name="Senate press release"/>

The Senate acts as a legislative institution that represents the provinces and territories of the country and promotes a feeling of equality, peace and good understanding between them, which is so essential for the growth and prosperity of a nation.<ref name="Senate press release"/> 

Thus, the Senate in Pakistan, over the years, has emerged as an essential organ and a stabilizing factor of the federation.<ref name="Senate press release" />

==History==

After the [[Independence of Pakistan|creation]] of [[Pakistan]] on 14 August 1947, the first [[Constituent Assembly of Pakistan|Constituent Assembly]], elected in December 1945 in undivided India, was assigned the task of framing the constitution of Pakistan. This assembly passed the [[Objectives Resolution]] on 12 March 1949, laying down principles which later became substantive part of the constitution.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> However, before it could accomplish the task of framing the constitution, it was dissolved in 1954.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> Thereafter, the [[Governor-General of Pakistan|governor-general]] convened the Second Constituent Assembly in 1955, which framed and passed the first constitution of Pakistan on 29 February 1956.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> That constitution was promulgated on 23 March 1956, which provided for a parliamentary form of government with a unicameral legislature.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> However, from 14 August 1947 to 1 March 1956 the Government of India Act, 1935, was retained as the constitution of Pakistan.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/>

On 7 October 1958, martial law was promulgated and the constitution abrogated. The military government appointed a Constitution Commission in February 1960 which framed the 1962 Constitution.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> That constitution provided for a presidential form of government with a unicameral legislature. The 1962 Constitution was abrogated on 25 March 1969.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> The civil government, which came to power in December 1971 pursuant to 1970 elections, gave the nation an interim constitution in the year 1972.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/>

In 1973, the constitutional conventional framed the comprehensive constitution which was rectified{{Huh?|date=January 2023}} on 12 April and promulgated on 14 August 1973.<ref name="Senate, pdf format">{{cite web|last1=Senate, pdf|title=Senate of Pakistan|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/Senate-Manual.pdf|website=www.senate.gov.pk/|publisher=Senate, pdf format|access-date=29 April 2015}}</ref> Retired [[List of justices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan|Senior Justice]] [[Khan Habibullah Khan|Habibullah Khan Marwat]] was elected its first chairman and remained until 1977.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> The 1973 Constitution also provided a [[parliamentary system]] of [[Government of Pakistan|government]] with a [[bicameral legislature]]: the [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]] {{small|([[lower house]])}} and the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] {{small|([[upper house]])}}. The membership of the Senate, which was originally 45, was raised to 63 in 1977 and to 87 in 1985.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/> In 2002, the membership rose to 100 through the [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|legal framework]] enforced on 21 August 2002. Now there are 104 members.<ref name="Senate, pdf format"/>

==Relationship between constituents of the Parliament==

The [[Parliament of Pakistan|Parliament]] of Pakistan consists of the [[President of Pakistan|president]] and the two legislative houses: [[National Assembly (Pakistan)|National Assembly]] {{small|([[lower house]])}} and the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] {{small|([[upper house]])}}.<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 50] in Chapter 2 of the Part III of the Constitution of Pakistan</ref>

The president is elected by members of both Houses of the Parliament and the [[List of provincial governments of Pakistan|four provincial assemblies]].<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 41(3)] in Chapter 1 of the Part III of the Constitution of Pakistan</ref> The president may be removed from office or impeached through a resolution, passed by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Parliament in a joint sitting of the two Houses, convened for the purpose.<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 47(1)-47(8)] in Chapter 2 of the Part III of the Constitution of Pakistan</ref> In case the office of the president becomes vacant for any reason, the chairman, or if he is unable to perform the functions of the office of the president, the speaker, acts as president till such time that a president is elected.<ref name="Article 601" /> Same is the case when the president by reason of absence from Pakistan or any other cause is unable to perform his functions.<ref name="Article 601" />

==List of chairmen of the Senate==
{{Legend2|White|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Legend2|Green|[[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|Muslim League (N)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Legend2|LightGreen|[[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|Muslim League (Q)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Legend2|Black|[[Pakistan Peoples Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Legend2|#6b8f1e|[[Balochistan Awami Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Name
! Entered office
! Left office
! Date of Birth and Death
! Political party
! [[Provinces of Pakistan|Provinces]]
|-
! rowspan=2  style="background:#000000;" |<span style="color:white;">'''1'''</span> 
| rowspan=2|[[Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat|Habibullah Khan]] 
| <sup>6 August 1973</sup>
| <sup>5 August 1975</sup>
| rowspan=2|<sup>{{Death date and age|df=yes|1978|12|05|1901|10|19}}</sup>
| rowspan=2|[[Pakistan People’s Party|PPP]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
|- 
| <sup>6 August 1975</sup>
| <sup>4 July 1977</sup>
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color: White"| 2 
| rowspan=2|[[Ghulam Ishaq Khan]] 
| <sup>21 March 1985</sup>
| <sup>20 March 1988</sup>
| rowspan=2|<sup>{{Death date and age|df=yes|2006|10|27|1915|01|20}}</sup>
| rowspan=2|[[Independent (politician)|IND]]
|-   
| <sup>21 March 1988</sup> 
| <sup>12 December 1988</sup> 
|-
! rowspan=4 style="background-color: DarkGreen"|<span style="color:white;">'''3'''</span>
| rowspan=4|[[Wasim Sajjad]] 
| <sup>24 December 1988</sup> 
| <sup>20 March 1991</sup> 
| rowspan=4|<sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1941|03|30}}</sup>
| rowspan=4|[[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PMLN]]
| rowspan=4|[[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|- 
| <sup>21 March 1991</sup> 
| <sup>20 March 1994</sup> 
|-
| <sup>21 March 1994</sup> 
| <sup>20 March 1997</sup> 
|-
| <sup>21 March 1997</sup> 
| <sup>12 October 1999</sup> 
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color: LightGreen"| 4
| rowspan=2|[[Mohammad Mian Soomro]]
| <sup>23 March 2003</sup>
| <sup>22 March 2006</sup>
| rowspan=2|<sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|08|19}}</sup>
| rowspan=2|[[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|PML(Q)]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Sindh, Pakistan|Sindh]]
|-
| <sup>23 March 2006</sup>
| <sup>11 March 2009</sup>
|-
! style="background:#000000;" |<span style="color:white;">'''5'''</span> 
| [[Farooq Naek]]
| <sup>12 March 2009</sup>
| <sup>11 March 2012</sup>
| <sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|01|03}}</sup>
| rowspan="3" | [[Pakistan People’s Party|PPP]]
|-
! style="background:#000000;" |<span style="color:white;">'''6'''</span> 
| [[Nayyar Hussain Bukhari]]
| <sup>12 March 2012</sup>
| <sup>11 March 2015</sup>
| <sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|12|23}}</sup>
|-
! style="background:#000000;" |<span style="color:white;">'''7'''</span> 
| [[Raza Rabbani]]
| <sup>12 March 2015</sup>
| <sup>11 March 2018</sup>
| <sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|07|23}}</sup>
|-
! style="background-color: #6b8f1e"|<span style="color:white;">'''8'''</span> 
| [[Sadiq Sanjrani]]
| <sup>12 March 2018</sup>
| <sup>8 March 2024</sup>
| <sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|04|14}}</sup>
| [[Balochistan Awami Party|BAP]] 
| [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]
|-
! style="background:#000000;" |<span style="color:white;">'''9'''</span> 
| [[Yusuf Raza Gilani]]
| <sup>9 April 2024</sup>
| <sup></sup>
| <sup>{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|12|23}}</sup>
| rowspan="3" | [[Pakistan People’s Party|PPP]]
| rowspan=4|[[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|-
|}

==Timeline==

<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20 
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1973 till:01/04/2021
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:1973

Colors     =
  id:app  value:green legend: Appointed
  id:abo  value:red legend: Abolished
Legend     = columns:2 left:150 top:24 columnwidth:100

TextData =
  pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Chairman of Senate:"

BarData =
  barset:PM

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM

 from: 06/08/1973 till: 04/07/1977 color:app text:"[[Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat]]"
 from: 04/07/1977 till: 21/03/1985 color:abo text:"[[Post Abolished]]"
 from: 21/03/1985 till: 12/12/1988 color:app text:"[[Ghulam Ishaq Khan]]"
 from: 12/12/1988 till: 12/10/1999 color:app text:"[[Wasim Sajjad]]"
 from: 12/10/1999 till: 23/03/2003 color:abo text:"[[Post Abolished]]"
 from: 23/03/2003 till: 11/03/2009 color:app text:"[[Mohammad Mian Soomro]]"
 from: 12/03/2009 till: 11/03/2012 color:app text:"[[Farooq Naek]]"
 from: 12/03/2012 till: 12/03/2015 color:app text:"[[Nayyar Bukhari]]"
 from: 12/03/2015 till: 12/03/2018 color:app text:"[[Raza Rabbani]]"
 from: 12/03/2018 till: 12/03/2021 color:app text:"[[Sadiq Sanjrani|Mir Sadiq Sanjrani]]"
 
</timeline>

==See also==
*[[Parliament of Pakistan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Public domain sources==
*[http://www.senate.gov.pk/ Senate of Pakistan]
{{Chairman Senate Pakistan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chairman Of The Senate Of Pakistan}}
[[Category:Chairmen of the Senate of Pakistan|*]]
[[Category:Chairs of upper houses|Pakistan, Senate]]
[[Category:Senior legislators]]