Pakistan National Assembly dissolved: What's next for crisis-hit country?

Islamabad, Aug 10: With Pakistan facing yet another crisis amid political turmoil and an ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan dissolved its parliament late last evening on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, setting the stage for a general election. President Arif Alvi approved the premature dissolution of the country's National Assembly.

 

 

The dissolution has paved the way for a caretaker government to oversee elections in which former prime minister Imran Khan will be unable to participate. An official statement released by Pakistan President's Office on X, formerly Twitter, read, "The president dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of the prime minister under Article 58-1 of the Constitution."

 

Khan was jailed over the weekend after being convicted of corruption in one of the several cases filed against him since his removal from office in April 2022.

 

 

The Pakistani president has given the outgoing government three days to appoint a new interim prime minister and 90 days to hold general elections. However, the outgoing government has warned that the elections may be delayed until next year as the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has approved new census results, requiring the ECP to hold fresh delimitation.

 

After the elections are conducted, the poll watchdog is bound to officially notify the results of the polls within 14 days, in accordance with the constitution

 

According to reports, the Pakistani government is considering postponing the elections, as it struggles to stymie security and political challenges that threaten to destabilise an already cash-strapped country.

 

 

"We're obviously concerned about any actions -- particularly violent actions -- that can contribute to instability in Pakistan or, frankly, any other country with whom we share a set of common interests when it comes to counterterrorism," said White House official John Kirby said, as quoted by news agency AFP.

Apart from this, outgoing PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz will hold discussions to finalise the name of the caretaker PM.