LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the two main political parties in the coalition government of Pakistan, on Tuesday agreed to dissolve the National Assembly on August 8.
The National Assembly’s current five-year constitutional term will end at midnight on August 12, after four days after the reported date.
According to the sources, the People’s Party proposed dissolving the assembly on August 8. Legal experts have also suggested August 8 to the government.
Sources said that August 9 and 10 were also considered to dissolve the National Assembly.
According to legal experts, the assembly will be dissolved after 48 hours if the president does not approve the summary. It should be noted that the National Assembly lasts until 12 midnight on August 12.
In his address to the nation on July 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced handing over the affairs to the caretaker government in August 2023. The Prime Minister said that on August 12, 2023, “we will hand over the affairs to the caretaker government.”
Pakistan People’s Party Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari recently said that instead of dissolving the assemblies, they should be allowed to complete their term. He said that ending the assemblies a few days before the end of the term will not send a good message; the general elections in the country should be held by October 12.
Procedure of National Assembly dissolution
Experts say that Article 224 of the Constitution is clear that when the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly is dissolved on completion of its constitutional term, new elections will be held within 60 days.
Under Article 112, if the Governor does not sign the Chief Minister’s summary, the Assembly will be automatically dissolved within 48 hours, after which the Chief Minister will write a letter to the Leader of the Opposition for the caretakers and the caretaker Chief Minister from both sides.
