In a significant development, President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday formally signed the summary for the dissolution of the National Assembly.
The move follows a proposal by the Prime Minister, signaling a crucial step in the country’s political landscape. The President’s approval marks the transition into a new phase of political activity, triggering preparations for upcoming elections.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif had forwarded a summary to President Arif Alvi, formally advising the dissolution of the National Assembly.
PM Shehbaz will meet Opposition leader in NA Raja Riaz on Thursday (August 10).
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi announced the dissolution of the government. He said elected government has completed its five years constitutional term.
“The summary calls for the formation of a caretaker government under Article 224,” Abbasi said.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will issue a notification after the summary approval and formation of caretaker government.
The anticipated move comes as the coalition government faces its final days, opting to dissolve the lower house of the parliament ahead of its constitutional term’s conclusion on August 12.
The motive behind this early dissolution lies in the government’s pursuit of extending the election timeline, a constitutional allowance of 90 days when a premature assembly dissolution occurs.
Article 58 of the Constitution mandates the premier to advise the president on this matter; the president’s approval is required, and if not granted, the assembly automatically dissolves within 48 hours.
“The president shall dissolve the National Assembly if so advised by the prime minister; and the National Assembly shall, unless sooner dissolved, stand dissolved at the expiration of forty-eight hours after the prime minister has so advised,” the constitutional article stipulates.
Since the ousting of the former international cricket star from power in April of the preceding year, Pakistan has been embroiled in a political maelstrom.
The culmination of this upheaval saw his incarceration on corruption charges over the weekend, culminating a months-long crackdown on his political party.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has forwarded a summary to PM Shehbaz detailing the Assembly’s dissolution.
Sources privy to the matter that following the parliament’s joint session, the premier will forward the summary outlining the Assembly’s dissolution to President Dr Arif Alvi.
Within the summary provided by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the space for the date has been left vacant, signifying that the Prime Minister will determine the date and time for the Assembly’s dissolution.
Following the unanimous green light given to the 7th digital census by the Council of Common Interests (CCI), and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement about conducting upcoming elections on the basis of the new census.
High-profile figures within the incumbent government have subtly hinted at the potential for a delay in the electoral schedule.
The groundwork for conjecture was laid when both Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in separate statements, suggested the likelihood of a delay due to the necessary redefinition of constituencies following the approved census data, a process that may require additional time.
