Newly elected senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take oath in the Upper House as Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over the session on Thursday. Out of 11 senators elected from the province, eight were present in the House and officially took their oath of office. This marks a significant step in strengthening the legislative representation from the region. Among the newly sworn-in members were Talha Mehmood, Rubina Khalid, Faisal Javed, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Dilawar Khan, Attaul Haq, and Niaz Ahmed, son of senior PML-N leader Amir Muqam.
As the newly elected senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take oath, Chairman Gilani congratulated the incoming members and welcomed them to the Senate. The atmosphere in the House remained largely formal and ceremonial during the proceedings. However, political friction surfaced when Senator Saifullah Abro voiced strong criticism against Deputy Chairman Senate Syedal Khan, accusing him of disrespecting opposition senators and failing to understand basic Senate procedures. Abro urged that the deputy chairman be educated about parliamentary norms and rules to avoid future disruptions.
While newly elected senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take oath, the session also featured remarks by Minister of State Bilal Kayani, who addressed fiscal matters and taxation. He emphasized the need to eliminate the non-filer category from the economic system to ensure better financial transparency. Still, he acknowledged that completely removing non-filers was not feasible at the moment due to the complexity of the current economic framework. His statement sparked debate among legislators, many of whom have raised concerns about expanding the tax net and addressing loopholes in revenue collection.
The participation of newly elected senators is expected to shape future legislative developments, especially with growing attention on provincial issues and national reform. The session not only marked their formal induction but also highlighted key political and policy challenges facing the Upper House. The presence of senior political figures among the new senators could influence upcoming decisions on governance, constitutional amendments, and national security matters.
The day concluded with renewed calls for strengthening parliamentary norms and upholding legislative integrity. As the newly elected senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take oath, political observers are watching closely to see how the new makeup of the Senate will impact upcoming legislative sessions and national policy direction.
