ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): The book titled ‘Senate of Pakistan and Regional Representation’ authored by parliamentary affairs researcher Dr Dilawar Hussain is drawing popularity among political and academic circles, being dubbed as the ‘first detailed study’ on the role of the Upper House of the country’s parliament.
Published by America’s reputable Bloomsbury Academic, the book provides a detailed account of the Senate of Pakistan covering its institutional journey, constitutional powers, legislative functions, provincial representation, and performance since its establishment in 1973. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of the transition in Senate’s role, particularly following the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
In the book’s foreword, Wilfried Swenden, a Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics at the University of Edinburgh, writes that “While bicameralism remains now a well-studied phenomenon across the Global North, this is much less the case in the Global South. Dilawar Hussain contributes significantly to filling this gap by providing the first detailed study of the Senate of Pakistan with a particular focus on regional representation”.
“This book provides a detailed and carefully crafted analysis of the Senate of Pakistan based on historical evidence and detailed coverage of its activities between 2012 and 2018,” Swenden adds.
Talking to APP, Dr Dilawar Hussain said the unique aspect of his book is the comparative analysis of Pakistan’s parliament, particularly its Upper House, with the parliaments of other significant nations. Also, it discusses the framework of legislature and the executive, devolution of powers, federal-provincial relations, legislative processes, and the role of parliamentary committees.
A PhD in Parliamentary Studies, Dr Dilawar said the book is “an in-depth analysis about the dynamics of the Senate” based on historical records, references to parliamentary debates and interviews with around 40 Senators – both incumbent and former members, veteran journalists, members of the UK House of Lords, and senior officials from the Senate Secretariat.
“The book includes input from former Prime Ministers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf; former Senate Chairmen Mian Raza Rabbani and Nayyar Hussain Bukhari; former Senator Farhatullah Babar; Senator Musadik Malik; former Federal Minister Mushahid Hussain Sayed; former National Assembly Speaker Syed Fakhar Imam; and Senator Sadia Abbasi, among others, which gives it a credible edge with an insight into first-hand parliamentary experiences,” he said.
Dr. Dilawar Hussain, who has taught Pakistan’s constitutional, parliamentary, and political history at various institutions, including prestigious Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, highlighted the significant role plated by the Senate particularly in facilitation of debates and legislation on important issues, may it domestic and foreign policy, counter-terrorism and the 18th Amendment.
He emphasized that Parliament lies at the heart of policy-making, legislation, and constitutional development, terming the book as a valuable resource for understanding legislative processes, policy formulation, and the federal structure.
Highlighting the need to strengthen the Senate’s role, he said the book draws on the institutional practices and effective functioning of the upper houses of Germany, Australia, and the United States to propose a range of reforms and recommendations aimed at enhancing the Senate’s effectiveness, performance, and institutional utility.
Dr Dilawar said regardless of one’s personal involvement in politics, the political processes and institutions profoundly shape the lives of the public, making their study essential to understand the political landscape and parliamentary history.
He pointed that while conducting research on parliamentary history, he noticed a crucial lack of comprehensive research regarding Pakistan’s Upper House. He said the book received accolades within Pakistan’s academic, journalistic, political, and parliamentary circles, and also received positive feedback from international think-tanks.
He expressed confidence that the book would prove a valuable resource for students, researchers, policy-makers, and parliamentarians seeking to learn about Pakistan’s parliamentary history and institutional reforms.
The book in English language has been simultaneously launched in New York, London, Oxford, New Delhi, and Sydney, with plans for its for translated Urdu version in near future, he added.
Dr. Dilawar Hussain is an Associate Member of the Centre for Legislative Studies at the University of Hull, UK. Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (Scotland), and at the House of Lords (UK).