Govt inches closer to exit: PM Shehbaz set to send summary to President Alvi for NA dissolution today
National Assembly, Lower House of the Parliament of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: It then draws near the season wherein Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made up his mind to send a summary to President Dr Arif Alvi for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA), lower house of the parliament.
Earlier, the government had announced that assemblies would be dissolved on August 9 (today), three days ahead of its mandated period, following which elections are to be held within 90 days.
The anticipated move comes as the coalition government spends its final day, opting to formally advise the president for the dissolution of the lower house of the parliament ahead of its constitutional term, which concludes on August 12.
The motive behind this early dissolution of the National Assembly lies in the coalition government’s pursuit to extend the timeline for fresh elections, which comes 90 days when the assembly is dissolved before its term ends.
Article 58 of the Constitution mandates the prime minister to formally advise the president on the matter. If the president does not give his assent to the advice, the assembly automatically stands dissolved in 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 article stipulates. – by our reporter and news agencies
