EMPOWERING THE SENATE: ENHANCING EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The Pakistani Constitution of 1973 established a bicameral Legislative Assembly. The fundamental idea behind creating a bicameral legislative assembly was to provide small provinces a voice in the upper house's deliberations. Initially, the upper chamber had no statutory power to call the executive to account. But in 2010, the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment granted Pakistan's Senate the power to make the Executive responsible, along the National Assembly. The upper house's authority is practically constrained by the parliamentary political system. This research article aims to investigate how the upper house, the Senate does, contribute to executive accountability in Pakistan, and what lessons can be drawn from its role for strengthening parliamentary oversight mechanisms? “Focusing on the constitutional powers, procedural mechanisms, and historical precedents of the Senate, the study will analyze its effectiveness in scrutinizing executive actions, holding the government accountable, and safeguarding democratic principles. By examining case studies, legislative debates, and empirical data, the article will assess the Senate's impact on executive accountability, policy formulation, and governance outcomes.