Inaugural session of newly elected NA likely on August 13 or 14

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Information Syed Ali Zafar Friday said Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had assured that it would complete legal formalities by August 11 or 12 and the first session of the recently-elected National Assembly may be convened on August 13 or 14.

Talking to media persons after visiting the National Archives of Pakistan here, the minister said as per constitution, it was obligatory to summon first session of the National Assembly within 21 days after elections and it was imperative to fulfill this constitutional obligation by August 15.

He said in the inaugural session first of all new speaker and deputy speaker would be elected and then all important election of new leader of the house such as; the prime minister would be held and this process may take three to four days.

He said after election, the newly-elected prime minister would take oath and the job of the caretakers would be over and under constitutional provisions power would be transferred to the new government.

He said presently the ECP was completing the legal formalities including consolidations of elections results, collection of returns of expenditures from the wining candidates during the elections.

Then independents are given time to decide whether they want to join any political party or stay independent, Ali Zafar said adding after that, the ECP would issue the party position status in the assembly and issue the list of winning candidates on reserved seat for women and minorities.

To a question he said the caretaker government during its short tenure under the leadership of caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk had performed its duties with commitment and dedication and took steps for overcoming challenges in power, energy, water, law and petroleum sectors and matters related to foreign affairs and prepared guidelines which he hoped would help the next government to run the business of the governance smoothly.