Amid financial crisis and political turmoil, Pakistan National Assembly was dissolved on Wednesday following the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. What's next for the crisis-hit country is the general elections.
The general elections is to be held within 60-90 days immediately following the day on which the term of the assembly is due to expire.
President Arif Alvi approved the recommendation of dissolution by PM Sharif marking an end to the government's tenure.
Sharif had earlier announced that his government will not complete his tenure and an interim government will come in after the dissolution.
It was on August 12, 2018 that the five-year term of the incumbent National Assembly came to power. The dissolution comes just three days remaining to complete the tenure of the government.
The dissolution of the National Assembly won't have any issue on the future of the Senate-the upper house of the Parliament. The bills passed by the national assembly till now will become invalid and be discarded. However, in the case of bills passed both by the National Assembly and the Senate will stand approved even without the President's sign.
What does dissolution mean
National assembly can be dissolved early if the PM recommends the president to do so.
According to Article 58 of the Constitution, if the president fails to dissolve the assembly within 48 hours after the PM's recommendation, the assembly automatically stands dissolved.
The cabinet members will end their roles once the assembly dissolves.
However, in case of no-confidence motion moved against the PM then the recommendation of dissolution is not possible.
Not just the PM, president can also dissolve the assembly at his discretion.
Role of ECP
With the National Assembly dissolved, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) springs into action.
According to Article 224 of the Constitution, the ECP must conduct general elections within 60 days after the assembly has completed its five-year term, or within 90 days in the case of an early dissolution, reported the Dawn.
It is up to the ECP to ensure fair elections.
Role of interim government
An interim government is appointed till fresh elections are held. The interim cabinet will have the responsibility to conduct fair elections in the country. Routine functions of the government, ensuring law and order is also part of the list of things the interim government should do.
It is the president, who appoints the interim government. The choice is made in collaboration with the PM and the leader of the opposition in the outgoing National Assembly.
Later, governor will appoint the chief minister in collaboration with the outgoing chief minister and leader of the opposition in the outgoing provincial assembly, reported Dawn.
Meanwhile, the law also states that if the outgoing PM and the leader of the opposition cannot agree on the caretaker PM within three days of the National Assembly's dissolution, they each forward two candidates to a committee.
The committee is formed by the speaker of the National Assembly and consists of eight members from the outgoing National Assembly, the Senate, or both.
The committee formed are tasked to finalise the names of the caretaker PM or caretaker CM within three days of receiving the nominations.
However, if the committee is unable to make a decision within the time frame, then the names will be forwarded to the ECP. A final decision will taken in two days.
Meanwhile, with former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan behind bars uncertainty looms over the election date. Khan has appealed the conviction. The commission last year disqualified Khan from holding public office for five years.
Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League Party is expected to face tough competition from Khan's party. However, law does not allow anyone with a criminal conviction to run in elections.
