On Monday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah suggested that the assemblies might be dissolved before August 13 to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) more time to prepare for the elections.
Sanaullah asserted that his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, were resolute that the assemblies must dissolve and elections proceed as planned. The Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies were already dissolved by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in January, while the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan remain intact. Sanaullah said a 20-30 day difference in the schedule wouldn’t matter significantly as they have been dealing with issues constitutionally.
ECP’s Discretion on Election Date
With the impending end of the current parliament’s term and the government’s tenure, due to start the 30-day countdown this week, the dissolution of the assemblies will result in establishment of an interim government in Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta. Similar transitional administrations have been in place in Lahore and Peshawar since January, when the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies were dissolved.
However, Sanaullah clarified that the ECP doesn’t necessarily have to hold elections on the 90th day after the dissolution. Instead, the elections could be organized anytime within this period at the ECP’s discretion. He reaffirmed that the assemblies would be dissolved after their term, paving the way for the caretaker setup and constitutionally mandated elections.
In a separate event, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, commented on the prevalent speculation about whether the elections would occur as planned. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Lalamusa to Nonanwala Road, Kaira assured attendees that the elections would be held within 60 to 90 days. He encouraged them not to be confused or concerned and emphasized the PPP’s consensus with all parties to hold elections simultaneously across the country as part of their efforts to secure Pakistan’s future.
