ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that he would submit the necessary summary to President Dr Arif Alvi tomorrow (Wednesday) for the dissolution of the country’s National Assembly.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday, the prime minister affirmed his commitment to the democratic process. “As our tenure comes to an end, I will draft a letter to the President of Pakistan, requesting the dissolution of the National Assembly,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared during his speech.
With the current term of the assembly concluding on August 12, the transition to a caretaker setup is on the horizon. In accordance with constitutional procedures, if the assembly successfully completes its term, elections are slated to take place within 60 days thereafter.
However, in the event of an early dissolution of the assembly, the Constitution stipulates that elections must be conducted within 90 days.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a farewell visit to the General Headquarters (GHQ), where he confirmed that the current government’s tenure is set to culminate on August 9, 2023. Subsequently, the reins of power will be ceremoniously handed over to the forthcoming caretaker setup.
Dissolution National Assembly Aims to Secure Additional Time
The aim behind dissolving the lower house of the parliament is to get one-month additional time for election preparation. According to the Constitution, if the National Assembly completes its stipulated tenure, elections are mandated within a span of 60 days. However, in the case of premature dissolution, this electoral window is extended to a period of 90 days.
Upon the president’s endorsement, the assembly will stand dissolved. However, if, for any reason, the president does not accord his approval to the advice, the assembly will automatically dissolve after 48 hours of the prime minister’s notification.
The dissolution of the National Assembly will pave the way for the commencement of a caretaker government. Amidst discussions of potential candidates for this transitional role, the name of Dr. Hafeez Shaikh has consistently held prominence. Having previously served as the finance minister in former prime minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, Dr. Shaikh Hafeez enjoys support from diverse quarters including the establishment. Hafeez Shaikh has also held the portfolio of finance minister during the tenures of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the government led by Pervez Musharraf.
While the Prime Minister’s nomination for the caretaker premier has been formalized through consultations with coalition partners, the final decision rests pending a meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and the opposition leader to jointly determine the interim premier.
If the prime minister and the opposition leader do not agree on any name, the matter is to be referred to a parliamentary committee. In case of the parliamentary committee faces obstacles in reaching a decision, the matter will be left to the country’s electoral body to appoint a caretaker prime minister.
