The convening of the National Assembly remains shrouded in uncertainty as President Arif Alvi has not yet issued orders despite receiving a summary from Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar sent a summary to the President seeking the assembly's convening, but the reasons behind the delay in issuing the orders remain unclear. This lack of transparency has fueled speculation and concerns, particularly as crucial provincial leadership positions are being filled in Punjab and Sindh.
According to the constitutional provisions outlined in Article 91 Clause 2, the National Assembly must convene within 21 days following the general elections, as advised by the caretaker prime minister.
The delay in calling the meeting of the 16th newly elected National Assembly has left many wondering about the rationale behind this decision. Constitutional experts assert that failure to convene the National Assembly meeting will automatically trigger its summons on February 29.
Meanwhile, significant political developments are underway in Punjab, where the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been duly elected, paving the way for the upcoming election of the Chief Minister. Similarly, the Sindh Assembly is gearing up for its session tomorrow to elect its Chief Minister.
On the federal front, a coalition government comprising the PML-N, PPP, and MQM is poised to take charge. The agreed prime ministerial candidate is Shehbaz Sharif from the PML-N, while Asif Zardari of the PPP is expected to assume the presidency. The Senate chairman, too, is slated to be from the PPP. However, the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly will be filled by a member from the PML-N.
