Role of non-Muslim Senators in upper house

*Click the Title above to view complete article on https://www.nation.com.pk/.

2018-03-03T02:55:44+05:00 Ayesha Hafeez

To give non-Muslims greater representation in the parliament in 2011 President Asif Ali Zardari signed an amendment in the Senate election rules to reserve four seats for minorities.

The amendment in the Senate rules of 1975 came in compliance with provisions of 18th amendment in the constitution. Under this amendment each provincial assembly can elect a non-Muslim senator in the Senate polls of in 2012.

Kamran Micheal from PML-N and Hari Ram from PPP were the first non-Muslims elected as Senators.

The role of these senators from minority groups from different parties has not played an active role in the legislation of the Senate. These non-Muslim senators have failed to represent their communities effectively.

Dr. Ashok Kumar

Originally from Sindh province, Dr Ashok Kumar migrated to Hub, Balochistan in 1988. He was elected President Hindu Penchayt of Hub in 1992.  He holds the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Jinnah Sindh Medical University in 1989.

He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of National Party on a reserved seat for minorities in Pakistani Senate election, 2015.

Tenure: March 2015 to March 2021

Province: Balochistan

Party: National Party (NP)

Committee Member

To Examine the overall working of the Sports Federations in Pakistan (Chairperson Committee)

The Performance of PIA

Communications

Information Broadcasting

and National Heritage

National Health Services

Regulations and Coordination

Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony

Kamran Michael

Kamran started his political career in 2001 after getting elected as Councilor. Later he was elected as Member of Lahore District Council.

Kamran was elected as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab for the first time in Pakistani general election, 2002on one of the eight seats reserved for minorities.

He was re-elected as the member of the Punjab Assembly for second term in Pakistani general election, 2008.

He is currently working as a Federal Minister for Statistics.

He has been an elected member of the Senate of Pakistan on minority’s seat since 2012 and has served as the Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs, Human Rights, Women development, Social Welfare and Finance in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

Tenure: March 2012 to March 2018

Province: Punjab

Party: Pakistan Muslim League

Nawaz (PML-N)

Committee Member

Climate Change

National Health Services Regulations and Coordination

To Consider the Islamabad Restriction on Employment of Children Bill, 2017

Brig. (R) John Kenneth Williams

He is a retired army officer. John Kenneth belongs from the city of  Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Brigadier (R) John Kenneth Williams a Pakistani Christian elected to Pakistan Senate.

He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on reserved seat for minorities in Pakistani Senate election, 2015.

Tenure: March 2015 to March 2021

Province: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Party: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Committee Member

The Dilapidated Condition of Bacha Khan Airport

Defence Production

National Food Security and Research

Religious Affairs and

Inter-Faith Harmony

Government Assurances

Hari Ram

He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan People’s Party in Pakistani Senate election, 2012.

Senator Hari Ram in 2017 protested on the amendment in the “Election bill-2017” which was militated against non-Muslims.

Tenure: March 2012 to March 2018

Province: Sindh

Party: Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPP-P)

Committee Member

Privatization and Statistics

Industries and Production

National Food Security and Research

Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony

View More News