Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: As many as 54 new members of Senate will take oath of their offices today (Monday), as 50 outgoing members will retire today. Meantime, the Upper House will take its new Chairman and Deputy Chairman today.

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 will take oath today with Presiding Officer Senator Afrasiab Khatak to chair the session today.

It is pertinent to note here that after the oath-taking, the ruling party Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will 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.

It is expected that Senator Nayyar Bukhari will be picked up as Chairman and Sabir Baloch as Deputy Chairman. However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the second largest party at the House; hence, Senator Ishaq Dar is likely to be taken as new Opposition Leader. SAMAA

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