KARACHI: The 20-man Federal and Provincial Constitution and Distribution of Powers Sub-Committee on Wednesday [Sept 14] recommended that Pakistan should have a bicameral legislature — a House of Representatives and a People’s Parliament. The Committee, it was gathered, was not in favour of direct Legislation by the people of the country through referendum as in Switzerland and other countries. The form of the Government, the Committee agreed, should be Federal and the powers of the Head of State will be considered in the light of this decision.

These were the first major decisions taken by the Committee during its second session, since its appointment by the Basic Principles Committee of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly in April.

The House of Representatives, Committee sources disclosed, would consist of representatives from the various Units that comprise Pakistan. All Units will get equal representation in the House of Representatives. The People’s Parliament will have members directly elected by the people and constituencies will be demarcated on population basis. — Staff correspondent

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024