Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani

Mir Muhammad Sadiq Khan Sanjrani is a Pakistani politician who previously held the position of chairman of the Senate of Pakistan. He represents the PB-31 Chagai constituency as a Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.

Early life and education

Sadiq Sanjrani was born on 14 April 1978 in Nok Kundi, Balochistan. He belongs to the Sanjrani tribe, which is described as a well-educated and conservative group. His early schooling took place in Nok Kundi before he relocated to other cities for higher studies.

He moved to Quetta to continue his education. Later, he traveled to Islamabad where he completed his degree.

Career

Sanjrani entered the political arena in 1998. He worked as a coordinator for the team of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif until the Pakistani coup d'état occurred in 1999. After this period, he held a different role in 2008 when he was appointed in-charge of the Yusuf Raza Gilani Grievance Cell at the Prime Minister's Secretariat. He maintained this position for 5 years.

The 2018 Pakistani Senate election marked a major turning point in his career. He ran as an independent candidate for a general seat from Balochistan and won. On 12 March 2018, he took his oath as a senator. That same day, he was elected as the 8th chairman of the Senate of Pakistan. He secured 57 votes out of 103 cast, which allowed him to defeat Raja Zafar ul Haq. The candidate from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) received 46 votes during this contest.

His election was historic because he became the first chairman from Balochistan. At age 39, he also became the youngest-ever Chairman of the Senate. His victory was supported by the Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Independent senators from Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas also provided support.

In September 2018, he traveled to Azerbaijan to address the National Assembly during its 100th anniversary. His tenure faced a significant challenge on 1 August 2019 when opposition parties presented a no-confidence motion. Although 64 senators supported the resolution, it failed because the opposition only gathered 50 votes. This outcome was 3 votes short of the requirement to pass the motion. While some opposition parties claimed General Faiz Hameed influenced the result, the event served as a victory for the PTI government coalition.

Sanjrani expanded his influence on the international stage in 2019. He became the first President of the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC). This organization focuses on global parliamentary cooperation regarding peace and human rights. Under his leadership, the IPC established its permanent headquarters in Islamabad.

He achieved re-election as chairman of the Senate on 12 March 2021. In this election, he defeated his rival Yusuf Raza Gilani. He continued to serve in this capacity until 15 February 2024. During the period from June 2023 to July 2023, he served as the acting president of Pakistan.

Personal life

Sanjrani comes from a Baloch family. He is identified as a member of the Sanjrani tribe.